HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy New Year from Boston! I trust that you’ve enjoyed friends and family over the Christmas season. I certainly delighted in all of FBC’s holiday events and observances. 2013 is a year that I always will remember with great fondness, as the Lord blessed us in so many ways by bringing us together as a church family.

Since arriving in New England, we’ve connected with family and old friends. We spent a couple of days downtown, and Joshua was thrilled by a chance to watch the Celtics play. Some snow is in the forecast, but not enough to cause major travel problems in these parts.

As you ring in 2014, don’t forget to thank God for His unyielding faithfulness on our behalf. Christ is worthy of all of our praise, and seeks to be the object of our greatest affection. Maintaining that priority is seldom easy for us, as we tend to allow all kinds of people and projects to usurp our passion for Jesus — so let’s start the year in humble dependence upon our Savior. Dependence for everything, even for our needed heart posture toward Him.

As believers in Jesus Christ, we have much to celebrate! We have been made new creatures in Christ (Second Corinthians 5:17). As such, we are completely forgiven, and our names are written in heaven — where we will spend eternity enjoying unbroken fellowship with our Lord and with all of His redeemed people.

I’m so glad that we just spent a few weeks studying Galatians. Now we’re ready to enter the new year abundantly grateful for our gospel freedom from sin, shame, and separation. May 2014 be for you, Beloved, a preview of the glorious inheritance that is already yours in Christ Jesus our Lord.