COVENANTER

As a new year begins, we are often full of resolve—setting goals, making plans, and hoping that this time real change will last. Yet just as with our New Year’s resolutions, our good intentions in the Christian life often fade, and we find ourselves facing the same struggles and shortcomings as before. The Apostle Paul meets us in that very tension and offers gospel-shaped encouragement for pressing on in Christ, not with fleeting resolutions, but with a steadfast, grace-fueled resolve.

For centuries, God’s people lived in hopeful expectation, longing for the promised Savior who would reverse the curse of sin and make God’s blessings flow to the ends of the earth. That longing was answered at the first Christmas, when angels announced with joy that the Lord had come at last. The hymn “Joy to the World” gives voice to this great hope and celebration, proclaiming the arrival of Christ the King for the salvation of the whole world.

The cherished Christmas hymn “What Child Is This” teaches us who the Child of Bethlehem truly is by asking and answering the most important question of Christmas. Through its verses, the hymn leads us from the wonder of a sleeping infant to the astonishing confession that this Child is Christ the King, worshiped by angels and guarded by shepherds. In just a few lines, it helps us hold together the glorious mystery of the incarnation: Jesus is truly man and truly God, who came in humility to save sinners and is worthy of our wholehearted worship.

One of the most cherished Christmas hymns of all time, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” is anonymous. Its unknown authorship reminds us that Christ’s first coming was likewise marked by obscurity, not because His identity was uncertain, but because the world did not recognize the long-promised Son of David and eternal Son of God. There is something wonderful about a hymn — and a Savior — who steps quietly into the world, veiled in humility yet full of glory.

Phillips Brooks’ beloved hymn “O Little Town of Bethlehem” beautifully captures the heart of Christmas with the line, “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight.” Few lyrics invite us to consider the sweep of the whole Bible as powerfully as this one. In just a few words, Brooks reminds us that all of history and all the longings of God’s people converged in that quiet night in Bethlehem.

Yesterday’s Thanksgiving holiday gave us the opportunity to reflect on God’s abundant mercies and express gratitude in various ways. Yet Scripture reminds us that thanksgiving is not meant to be an annual event, but the continual posture of the Christian life. With the holiday now behind us, we must consider what it means to give thanks today, tomorrow, and every ordinary day the Lord grants us.

As we look ahead to the celebration of the Thanksgiving holiday next week, it’s good for us to pause and remember just how much we’ve been given. In a world that easily distracts us with anxiety, tragedy, and noise, we need reminders that God’s mercies surround us daily and are always worthy of our thanks.

Endnotes in modern books may feel tedious, but in Scripture they take on a far richer meaning. The New Testament serves as the Bible’s own “endnotes,” illuminating the types, promises, and shadows of the Old and revealing their fulfillment in Christ. By turning to the back of the Book, we discover the mystery once hidden but now made clear through the person and work of Jesus.

The Apostle Paul describes the Church as one body with Christ as its Head, reminding us that every member is vitally connected and necessary for the whole to flourish. When one part suffers, the entire body feels the pain. Likewise, we should grieve and pray when our brothers and sisters in Christ are hurting. With that in mind, let us turn our hearts toward the global Church, remembering especially the suffering believers in Nigeria who need our prayers and compassion.

Though it began 508 years ago, the Protestant Reformation still matters today! It recovered the glorious truth that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. It freed us from the weight of human traditions, re-centered our hearts on God’s Word, and fixed our gaze heavenward, calling us to live wholly for His glory.

Throughout Scripture, God’s people are called to remember His faithfulness. One of the most vivid biblical tools for doing so is the Ebenezer—literally a “stone of help” (1 Samuel 7:12)—set up to commemorate God’s mighty acts on behalf of His people. From Joshua’s twelve stones taken from the Jordan River to the repeated exhortations throughout the New Testament, remembering what God has done is central to a life of faith and gratitude.

We live in a culture that celebrates independence and self-sufficiency, priding ourselves on our ability to handle life on our own. Yet Scripture reminds us that we are anything but self-sufficient. We are deeply dependent, limited, and in constant need of help. The psalmist knew this well, crying out to God as his helper, and his example calls us to do the same: to humbly seek the Lord’s help and the help of His people.