January 2025

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

-Psalm 103:1-2

The best resolution that a human being can make is to obey God. The Psalmist urges his soul to praise God, and what better way is there to glorify God than by doing God’s will? And the best way for us to know the will of God is to study the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, as revealed in the Scriptures. History has no greater teacher than Jesus of Nazareth, whose wisdom and friendship brings life. And the power to obey comes from regular repentance from sin and a willing surrender to the Holy Spirit; the very Spirit of Jesus living in us.

Too often, I confess, I begin the day by thinking about what I want to do rather than asking God what He would have me do. Too often I turn to myself or to lesser teachers instead of to Christ. And too often I am relying on my own strength and wisdom, rather than taking time to be still and allow the Spirit of Christ to direct my steps. As a result, I feel alone and overwhelmed, for I am neglecting the ever-present holy community of Father, Son, and Spirit.

In addition to the great fellowship of Father, Son, and Spirit, we also have been adopted into the church: the very family of God which includes all people whose faith is in the One True God. God encourages us to find Him in the Word, in the Spirit, and in the fellowship of believers. Are you feeling alone? Do you want to take seriously the resolution to obey God? Then you need the rest of the body to help you. Of course the church is broken and imperfect, but it is also the instrument through which Christ’s message and Spirit is delivered to the world.

Praise the Lord and forget not his benefits. In other words, seek to obey God and do not neglect the blessings God has given (Himself and the church). At the close of 2025, I pray that we all shall be even closer to God than we are now.

And please remember that this kind of divine obedience is not just burdensome work, for God knows everything that we need, and desires to refresh us as well. Psalm 16:11 is not usually far from my mind:

“You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Matthew