God Never Asked Us to Like 2020…But Asks Us to be Faithful

“For we live by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Questions matter.

  • Does this make me feel good?
  • Is this true?

These are very different questions.

If the main question you ask in facing difficult decisions is, “How does this make me feel?”, you will never accomplish anything great. For great things require great sacrifice.

At some point in our history, the main question in life transitioned from “Is this true?” to “How does this make me feel?” And our families, communities, and countries have been paying the price.

There is no doubt that 2020 has been a difficult year. But God never asked us if we “liked” 2020. What God does ask of us is that we remain steadfast and faithful to God. You don’t have to love 2020. But don’t overlook this season either. God doesn’t require perfect conditions to create beauty and purpose.

The reality is that God is at work right now. Yes. Even in 2020. There’s not been a single moment of 2020 when God has not been at work. In fact, God has equipped you, the Little Church, and Lakewoodgrace for fruitful ministry for this season.

Some are going through a really difficult season right now. I encourage you to pray that God opens your eyes to see how God is at work. The Apostle Paul wrote, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe” (Ephesians 1:18-19).

Because 2020 has been such a difficult year, God chose you and me to be his church in such a time as this.

God is at work. God doesn’t need perfect conditions to accomplish his purposes. In fact difficult situations are the very ingredient needed for God to do what only God can do.

Friends, keep walking. Keep the faith. Keep obeying. “For we live by faith, not by sight.”

The One Thing That Hasn’t Changed in 2020

“For no word from God will ever fail” (Luke 1:37).

No one who answered the question, “What do you think you will be doing five years from now?” in 2015 got it right.

2020 has been something!

  • Covid-19
  • Black Lives Matter
  • 2020 Presidential election
  • Protests
  • Economic hardship
  • Global shutdown
  • Social distancing
  • Masks
  • Online worship

It’s been a tumultuous year.

But one thing that hasn’t changed – God.

  • God is still sovereign
  • God is still Lord and King
  • God is still holy and righteous
  • God’s promises
  • God’s word
  • God is, and will always be, for you
  • God loves you
  • God wants what is best for you
  • God knows better than you

More than ever, remember who you are because of who your Father is.

Many things are different than we’ve ever known. But nothing happening today changes the reality that God loves you, is for you, and is with you.

That’s the reason why we can still proclaim, “Merry Christmas!”

Grace and Mercy

“For the sake of your name, LORD, forgive my iniquity, though it is great” (Psalm 25:11).

Our sins are indeed great. Charles Spurgeon wrote, “We are undeserving, ill-deserving, hell-deserving sinners.”

For those who are saved, it is only because of the LORD. Our salvation and forgiveness is wholly God’s work. It is all grace. It is all mercy.

Grace and mercy.

  • Grace is when we receive what we do not deserve – forgiveness and eternal life.
  • Mercy is when we don’t receive what we absolutely deserve – judgment and damnation.

Grace and mercy.

“Great as my sins have been, they are not so great as his love,” writes Charles Spurgeon.

The only reason why salvation and forgiveness is possible is because God’s love is great.

Grace and mercy.

“The language of Christianity is the language of substitution. It is not primarily the language of morals. God is not presented as a mother saying, ‘eat your vegetables.’ Instead, Christianity is about a one-sided rescue, that we didn’t want and certainly didn’t deserve, and he did it anyway” (Rod Rosenbladt).

Grace and mercy.

Thank God for grace and mercy.