In Kindness and Love...
Isaiah 63:7-9
Monday— January 2nd
Did you know that our monthly calendar was created by the ancient Romans? Each month was given a meaningful name because of where it landed in the year. For example, the Romans named the first month January, from the Latin word Janua, meaning door or window from which a person may look both ways, in and out— forward or back. With a new year, we naturally look back over where we have been and look ahead to where we are going.
Obviously, none of us can look back at the past year and say there weren’ t difficult times. Difficulties are a part of life. This was certainly the case for the Israelites in Isaiah’ s day. Life was anything but glorious, joyful, or triumphant. Sin still dogged their lives. Although the Assyrian army may have retreated during Isaiah’ s day, eventually a new threat would arise. Though the physical blessings weren’ t always so obvious, the spiritual blessings were still there. God preserved his people. This was the focus of Isaiah’ s prayer. He said,“ I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for us.”
No matter how we struggled in the past year, we can’ t overlook the persistent spiritual blessings of our God. We don’ t have to look very far back in the year to be reminded of God’ s undeserved love and kindness. In fact, think back to last week when we celebrated Jesus, born to live the holy life we couldn’ t, punished for the sins we deserved, and rose again to give us life. But our spiritual blessings for 2016 aren’ t confined to Christmas. For the last 52 Sundays God fed us with his Word when we gathered for worship and Sunday school. We followed Jesus from the cross to the empty tomb where we shouted“ He is risen!” We have felt the presence of the Lord who came to be our Savior throughout the year.
Remembering our Lord’ s steadfast love and kindness in the past helps build our trust in the Lord looking forward. The same Lord who came to be our Savior will sustain, deliver, and bless us in the coming year.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding me of the spiritual blessings that you continue to shower upon my life. Keep me always close to you, that no matter what trouble should assail me in 2017, I will remember your steadfast love and kindness that will remain with me all the days of my life. In Jesus name. Amen.
ACTIVITY:
Have each person write down a list of 3 spiritual blessings the Lord has given you in the past year. Then list how those blessings will be a continual reminder of God’ s love and kindness going forward. Share these with each other.
47