Going forward into a new year might be an exciting, but also apprehensive time, for many people. Going into the unknown is something all people grapple with, but which the promises of God prepare us. With the arrival of Christ in our midst, the realization of the divine promises, what assures us so we might live within the calling and purpose we should?

The birth of Jesus Christ is the celebration of a new reality, as much as a historical event. It is a revelation to the world as to how the LORD operates, and what he values the most out of anything we can do. And makes us wonder about our lives and how they fit into this grand design of salvation.

The arrival of Christmas takes us from expectation to celebration, with the Virgin Mary aiding us in that transition. We do not typically see her as a prophet, but through her participation in the LORD's promises demonstrates how important the arrival of Jesus Christ is to the world- and to us.

As the time of the promised one draws closer, we are made to reflect on who this is? What does his arrival say about our lives, what we need, and what he is willing to provide? The LORD has come for all he cherishes throughout creation, knowing what we are capable of when we have the right guidance. This is a time to focus on what the LORD has already given us, and how it is being used for our betterment.

We are warned to “be awake” and “be alert” by the prophets to everything happening around us. God is moving in a specific way into this world, and does so for very specific reasons. To disarm the powers of this world, subvert their actions and reasonings, so his own will stand in certainty. Those promises prove to be disruptive to our lives, never allowing us to think the same way again, and make us examine what we are doing today to welcome his presence.

As we anticipate the coming of Christmas, we are called to focus on what the idea of Christ’s coming means. He is the response of God to the problems of the world, and of human life. He has come to address and correct what we do, and how we see the world. He comes to judge the world, which means more than just punishing evil. But to purify and provide a new way forward where we thought there was a dead-end.

With the end of the Christian year, we look back on all that God has led us through. We have witnessed the way in which his rule has called, inspired, and sent us out. Despite all the contradictory information the world and its leaders send us, we have been given a glimpse as to who is truly capable. And it is that call, that example, and that stern assurance which allows us to face this new season in confidence.

The coming of Christ in final judgment is not a pinpoint in time that we are to predict, even though many have tried. It is an era by which we might look at our world, examine our lives, and understand what we are doing for the master. This is a time to see if we truly have articulated, and embody, what God values and desires. Not out of fear of punishment, but in fulfilling our purpose in allowing knowledge and access to the divine by all.

The end of the Christian year brings a sense of anticipation for the coming of Christ, in more ways than one. To understand Christmas, the gifting of Jesus Christ to humanity, is coupled with understanding the return of Christ in glory at the end times. It is not something to fear or be concerned about, but to be celebrated as the revealing of a great truth. An assurance that someone capable is coming in response to the issues we face now.

Remember and celebrating the Saints of God has a particular weariness among Protestant Christians, due to some holdover beliefs from another time. But honoring the lives of the faithful is an invaluable gift to us learning to live the faith today, and provides opportunity to witness divine love and grace like we never could on our own.

Many have a notion that the historical events of the Reformation were a desire to have the Church progress and move toward something new and exciting. But the man, Martin Luther, never intended to split the Church and divide Christians among Protestants and Catholics. Rather, it was the desire to have the Church return to something, be reminded of its purpose and calling, and understand how God was choosing to move among his people.

The Church should never worry about if the work it is doing is having an impact on the world. Sometimes the world might see us with indifference, or ignore us altogether. So what should Christians be oriented toward in the midst of that attitude, to ensure the Gospel message is still communicated?

The Church is always at work to proclaim the name of Jesus Christ, and to represent the will of God. But everyone thinks they know the most effect jobs for that task. How should the Church view its work, and to what end should it be pursued by its members?

“God never gives us more than we can handle” is a phrase we offer to people who are hurt or struggling. We offer it out of good intentions, but what if it does more harm than good? To the one struggling, everything seems like it is more than what they can handle. So how does God demonstrate his care during those struggling times, and transition us to a place where we can confidently stand- in spite of the situations we face?

We all may have heard at one time that we must forgive others who wrong us. The Christian faith expounds the idea of forgiveness, but is it applied in the proper manner? Many have misunderstood it to mean just accepting the faults and wrongdoing of others as “no big deal.” But that mentality has hurt many in the world, and within the Church. So how does the teaching of Jesus allow us to live it, and demonstrate a new way for those facing powerlessness in the world?

In living out the calling and willfulness God has bestowed within us, we confront a world with powers and authorities who are at odds with our way of living. Yet God has placed those in charge of bringing order to the world, even when it seems that order acts against the people of God. How are we to respond to such a conundrum? Perhaps instead of trying to always buck the authority we do not like, we use it as a means to determine who is more worthy of our attention.

A willing heart is a sign that God has touched us and made us a part of his own. But willingness is also a preparation God uses to further cement his ways into us. When we are drawn to the pure love, grace, and holiness of God, it is revealed everything that is out of step with him. Thus, it is shown how big and capable our hearts are to love and demonstrate that divine identity to the rest of the world. When we follow Jesus, and agree to take God’s identity to those we know, we are shown our true ability to serve.

A willing heart is what marks a person as part of God’s people, and is a sign of a faith that does not come from human origins. Willingness is what allows Christians to understand all that Jesus does, pursue the things the world is against, and see God as more worthy to gain than anything else. We willingly give of ourselves, “sacrifice” ourselves before God as an act of true worship, in order to gain more than he have ever hoped for.

The act of ‘labeling’ others is destructive to society and how it operates. It is also destructive to the Church, falsely claiming to know who are the ‘true’ and ‘false’ Christians. But human values and assumptions do not make people a part, or separate, from the holy assembly and promises of the divine. And it is that power which can change, teach, and guide us in how to truly be part of the Church and be what God desires for his world.

Many assume there is a “letter and spirit” to the laws and rules which govern our lives. Different ways to interpret what it means to live and be at peace with one another. Arguments could be made as to which is better, but the greater issue is how we ignore what those laws teach and guide us toward in the first place. Which is a better way to live and see the world, or are they both necessary to guide us toward something more ideal?