As our world enters a new decade, 2020, do we often feel like pilgrims in a foreign place?
Do our heart’s long for a homeland of peace and truth? Stepping up to hope for our upcoming year is found in our own personal, active worship to the LORD.
I won’t use the word god, because in this day, as in the Bible days, there were many gods among the people.
In ancient Israel, the people would travel in companies up to Jerusalem three times a year to worship the LORD, YHWH. They would sing pilgrim’s songs, marching songs to the true, eternal God, defined as the Creator of heaven and earth.
The songs are recorded for us in the Psalms of ascent.
The early steps of the journey, step by step, began with a company of singers proclaiming their heart.
Tell me, does your heart not cry out these phrases?
I took my troubles to the Lord;
I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.
Rescue me, O Lord, from liars
and from all deceitful people . . .
How I suffer in far-off Meshech.
It pains me to live in distant Kedar.
I am tired of living
among people who hate peace.
I search for peace;
but when I speak of peace, they want war! Psalm 120 NLT.
But as Christmas decorations get put away, in this new year of 2020, we must be diligent to keep our Jesus in full view, for this world is a battle zone.
“I search for peace;
but when I speak of peace, they want war!”
Many words are spoken by the people and leaders around. But only God knows the heart of man.
Some words have been shoved aside because they’re offensive, but when someone has an invasive cancer, the attack is often bitter treatments. Our world is sick with a cancer.
The original word of this particular sickness, (which needs to be resurrected to make sense of this upside down world) is . . . sin.
The heart of people, all people, is deceitful. We are all prone to war in our minds. All have sin. (Romans 3:23).
None of us escape this condition, but thanks to the Lord, He gave us Jesus.
Where does our help come from?
Did we not sing the song this Christmas?
“Hark the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled”
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic hosts proclaim:
“Christ is born in . . .
our hearts today?
Hail the Heav’n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Yes, we must lift our eyes and worship aloud. The heaven-born Prince of peace abides in a heart of praise. Do we need peace? Do we need light?
We must receive this Prince of Peace. We must believe He loves us and came to heal each of us individually.
This new year can we put sound to the words? Do we dare sing aloud the never aging words of hymns and psalms. We must receive in order to . . . receive:
Light and life to all He brings
Ris’n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
We live in a world that needs help, . . . one person at a time. Help comes from the LORD who made heaven and earth.
I look up to the mountains—
does my help come from there?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth! Psalm 121.
The wise men came to worship the New-born King. Do we take time to worship Him. Do we go out of our way to give Him praise? This is a New Year. We will answer,
“Yes!”
“Thank You Lord, for saving my soul. Thank You Lord, for making me whole. Thank You Lord, for giving to me, Thy great salvation so rich and free.”
God’s provision of the Babe come down to later die on the cross that Peace on earth and mercy mild God and sinners reconciled.”
We say, “Amen. Let it be in me.”
Jesus is our gift for each day of this new year.
Let’s worship the Prince of Peace, in the assembly of the congregation, stepping up with community that we might live with renewed courage every waking day.
Speak, sing, mumble, grown, to the LORD it’s glorious if it’s praise and adoration to Him, the Creator of heaven, earth, and the incredible life we see.
Our help comes from the LORD.
Yes, we lift up our voices exalt His great Name:
He will not let you stumble;
the one who watches over you will not slumber.
Indeed, he who watches over Israel
never slumbers or sleeps.
The Lord himself watches over you!
The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
The sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon at night.
The Lord keeps you from all harm
and watches over your life.
The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
both now and forever Psalm 121.
“Praise be to our God, the Maker of heaven and earth, forever.”
Hark the Herald Angels Sing. 1739, Hymns and Sacred Poems, Charles Wesley and George Whitefield.
