This week I heard the phrase, “Baby, it’s COVID out there”. I have good friends and family involved in this battle. How do you stay calm when life is so uncertain?

The usual calm commentators of reason are not being heard. Instead, the megaphones have been given to voices spewing fear and uncertainty birthed in the bowels of Gehenna. Of these Peter would say: “And in their greed they will exploit you with false words” (2 Pt.2:3a).

But allow God’s servant David to speak to your heart. He is ascending the mountain to the Temple of God as he pens these words:

Psalm 131 (ESV) — A Song of Ascents. Of David. ¹ O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. ² But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. ³ O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore.

First, notice his focus is away from pride and instead towards humility. Secondly, he is no longer that selfish child with an insatiable appetite. And, finally, he leaves us focused on hope in the Lord from now and into eternity.

Almost every Christmas, I see blog posts and sermons about how Christians should not celebrate Christmas as Christ’s birth. Some say it should not be celebrated because it has roots in paganism, others because it is not actually, the day of Christ’s birth. However, possibly the most convincing reason among our brethren is because the Bible never commands us to keep Christmas.

However, the Bible is more lenient on this subject than these reasons let on. In Romans 14, Paul is encouraging the church at Rome not to judge one
another for things that are a matter of conscience, “One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord” (14:5–6a; ESV). Some people were arguing over whether the holidays (or “holy days”) should be kept or if they should just regard all days as the same. He gives them liberty to celebrate holidays if their conscience allows it.

Therefore, we need to do the same thing. We need to not bind laws upon our brethren that Christ did not bind himself. If people want to recognize December 25 as a time to celebrate Jesus coming into the world, they are permitted by God. Nevertheless, they need to keep the other commandments of God and make sure that this practice is not impeding your relationship with God and others, “whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor 10:31b).

I’m currently reading the book of Psalm hoping to find some wisdom to end the year on. In reading Psalm 13, I noticed I tend to sound like King David does here in verses 1-4 (NIV).

“¹How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide you face from me? ²How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? ³Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, ⁴and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall.”

Have you ever thought, like David claims here, that God was slow to act on your behalf? We all often feel this same impatience in our lives at times, but did you notice that the phrase “how long” occurs four times in the first two verses, indicating the depth of David’s distress?

I expect most of us have felt this same level of despair at some point in our lives, but have we experienced the same level of confidence in our God as David does in the same prayer?

⁵But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. ⁶I will sing the Lord’s praise, for He has been good to me.”

By the end of his prayer, David professed his hope and trust in God and found strength. David affirmed that he would continue to trust in God no matter how long he had to wait and he held on to his faith. In times of despair or when you feel impatient, don’t think of “how long”, but remember David’s steadfast faith in God’s unfailing love and trust wholeheartedly in Him.

1 Timothy 6:11-12 – But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue
righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. [12] Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

As 2020 draws to a close, most of us are more than ready to turn the page and start a new year. But what lies ahead for us?  Much of what lies ahead is up to us and the choices we make every day.  We must strive to improve spiritually, mentally and emotionally.  I recently came across some great advice that I received many years ago.   

Be Intentional – Have a plan and purpose for each aspect of your life, especially your spiritual life.  Run the race to win!  “How we live our days… is how we live our lives.”  Think about what you can do to grow stronger, more knowledgeable and more faithful.

Be Authentic – Be transparent with your struggles and strengths.  Let Christ shine out of you naturally. The Apostle Paul struggled with many things and wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:10, “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Be Present – Be active in your faith.  Make a difference in every sphere of your life. In John 10:10, Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”  Our life can be full if we choose to be present and fill it up with people, love and service.

Be Malleable – Be open to God’s shaping hand.  Be intentional but not stubborn.  Take life as it comes without setting limits or expectations.  God will overwhelm your wildest imagination.  Your most productive ministry will likely come from your biggest struggle.  The Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:11, “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will….”  Allow our life to be molded and shaped to fulfill God’s purpose in our life.

I believe that great things lie ahead for Summit.  I pray that you will choose to grow every day and be an active part of the many things in our future.

How can we celebrate when our community is reeling from the effects of a global pandemic? And when we have family and church members who are deathly ill or who have died?

This is not the first time God’s people are asking these questions.

We have asked this question from exile: Psalm 137 (ESV) — 1 By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. 3 For there our captors required of us songs, and our tormentors, mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” 4 How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land?

And the martyrs have asked that question from the heavenly part of the His Kingdom: Revelation 6:9–10 (ESV) — 10 They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”

And Mary must have asked that question as she walked in labor to a barn to deliver her “mistake” (Lk.2:7). Her embarrassed family where not there to support her. And her husband was doing her a huge favor by not divorcing her. After all, she was carrying another’s child.

Yet, friend, you know how that story turned out. Look past your circumstances. Choose to focus instead on the warmth and beauty of the celebrated Christ.

As we approach the holiday season, gifts are constantly on our minds (even if they are not, advertisements will remind you of this obligation). I would like to talk about gifts, not ones wrapped in a box, but the ones God has given to each of us. God has endowed each of us with a gift in order to serve his people (1 Pet 4:10a). In the New Testament, many gifts were miraculous, and people could speak in tongues, heal miraculously, and prophesy to the congregation. While these miraculous gifts have faded among Christians, we still have gifts from God that are just as important, and we can each use our talents for his glory.

However, some of you may think that you are too imperfect, and your gifts are not important enough to be used by God for his service. But Scripture reveals to us that God can use almost any gift to his glory. When Israel was being oppressed by the Midianites, God raised up Ehud to deliver them. The Bible tells us that Ehud’s gift was that he was left-handed (or ambidextrous), and this made him perfectly qualified for God’s task – assassinating king Eglon. My challenge to you is threefold: First, reflect on your gifts and your skill sets. Second, ask God to help you use these gifts to his glory. Finally, take action. Without this last step, you will be like the wicked servant who hid his master’s talent instead of using it to glorify his master (Luke 19:11–27).

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.Ephesian 3:20-21

As I sit down to write this article, the day of prayer and fasting for Dan, Ken, their families, and all those in the extended Summit family who might become ill in the weeks ahead is in motion.  We are calling out to God with boldness and great faith to heal our family.  During my time of prayer, I reflected on this scripture as a reminder of who I am talking to as I pray.

ABLE
God is perfectly capable of answering the prayers of his saints.  The one who created the world, redeemed the world, and will take out of the world his saved people has no lack of ability to do wonderful things.

FAR MORE ABUNDANTLY
What limit is there on what God will do with his limitless power?  It would seem that his power is often applied in proportion to our asking.  Are we bold enough to ask God to act beyond what a reasonable person might ask?  Are we too concerned that God might not come through for us to ask for what we really believe is needed?

AT WORK WITHIN US
The power of God is transformative in the outward actions he takes to answer our prayers, but even more in the shaping of the hearts and wills of those who are praying.  May God bring many souls to himself as he answers our prayers

GLORY TO GOD THROUGHOUT GENERATIONS
The answers to our prayers today produce glorious results that echo through generations to come.  God’s action today sets events in motion that will build in their effect throughout the generations.  We are not praying for a favor today.  We are praying that almighty, timeless God will bless beyond what we will ever see.

God could conclude the days of history in order to take his saints to heaven where everything can be set right.  But, for now he has chosen to involve his saints in the process of redeeming the time.  He loves us so much that he is sharing his power and his purpose with us.  Let’s not let the world down by praying safe prayers.  Let’s bring the fullness of God’s power into the lives of this generation through our prayers of faith.

What force can destroy the church? If you had told me last year that people in power would call for the doors of churches to be closed, I would not have believed it. But that just happened.

Hebrews 10:25f (ESV) —25 NOT NEGLECTING TO MEET TOGETHER, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. 26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there NO LONGER REMAINS A SACRIFICE FOR SINS.

Yet, Jesus promised that His Church would find a way and survive even these days. Matthew 16:18 (ESV) — 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

So, through the lens of my “rear view mirror” I look at 2020 as a fulfillment of God’s Great Resilient promise.

• I see it as a year in which His Church rose to the occasion.

• I see our resilience in continued virtual services.

• I see this “great persecution” as a time His word left the church buildings and proliferated throughout the world.

• I see it as a year many lost souls found His eternal family through baptism.

• I see it as a year that hurting souls came in droves to our building for relief from mental and spiritual anguish.

• I see it as a year our parking lot just kept growing in anticipation of renewed growth.

• I see it as a year that His ministerial staff doubled.

• I see it as a year in which our Elders got to meet, in person, with all those who were open to visits.

I am so thankful for each one of you. Soon and very soon we will once again be able to “greet one another with the Holy Kiss”. In the meantime, “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace” (Num. 6:24–26 ESV).