Sovereign Grace Church

…I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end


(2 TIMOTHY 2:1)

Every day, while in the inner man I want to glorify my Lord, it seems all I am permitted to see in the stinking flesh of my old man is this body of death. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord—it is He who has saved me. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin [ROMANS 7:24-25, TITUS 3:5].

Beloved, when I make the mistake of looking at myself, at all my thoughts, at all my words, at all that I am—I only and ever see in me all the just reasons why my Heavenly Father should send me to hell. But God, having enabled me to look away from all that I am (having absolutely no confidence in my flesh) I ever and only look to Christ, seeing in Him all the just reasons why the Father may set me in glory with all those that shall sing of His beloved Son “Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation” [EPHESIANS 2:4-5, PHILIPPIANS 3:3, REVELATIONS 5:9].

While at the close of this year, I am thankful for so many of His benefits, I count this benefit supremely above them all, that I may say with you beloved, the Lord Jesus Christ is my Lord, my God, and all my salvation (2 SAMUEL 23:5).

Beloved believing sinner, you are complete in Him, complete in His righteousness and throughly [completely] washed of all yours sins by His blood. And while we may not know what this coming year may bring, praise the LORD, by His undeserved grace in Christ, we know we shall have an expected end in glory [COLOSSIANS 2:10, JEREMIAH 29:11].

Until that blessed day beloved, I pray He will be pleased to spend us for His glory and the good of His people in the coming year. Amen.