LAST DAY OF 2007
 
"From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another."
- John 1:16
 
The words of our text shed divine light upon the year which is passing and says we have all received.
 
Most of us no doubt are thinking more of the things we have lost during this year that has gone. Some of you perhaps lost a great deal, money, health, and some of you lost loved ones.
 
During this past year you have perhaps often felt . . .

LAST DAY OF 2007
 
"From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another."
- John 1:16
 
The words of our text shed divine light upon the year which is passing and says we have all received.
 
Most of us no doubt are thinking more of the things we have lost during this year that has gone. Some of you perhaps lost a great deal, money, health, and some of you lost loved ones.
 
During this past year you have perhaps often felt how poor you are now and how rich you were at the beginning of the year. What a change can take place in a home in one year! Remember our text says: "We all received." Yes we all received, even we who lost a great deal. It is this of which God would remind us before we bid adieu to the old year.
 
We have all received, for God only gives. He gives to all, both to the evil and to the good and He only gives good gifts. But He cannot give equally much to all because there are many who will accept only His temporal gifts.
 
We have all received grace, for all of God's gifts both temporal and spiritual, are grace. None of us has merited a single one of the gifts we have received.
 
It is good to bring the old year to a close when we can see that is has brought us grace from God. It is good to begin the new year knowing that we are to receive grace. Each day is to bring us new grace and new lovingkindness from God.
 
Christian friends, As we stand with our back to the past 12 months and our face toward the new year tomorrow, we an have hope because we too can be sure of God's help. That makes the prospect of a New Year worth celebrating. Now go and may the Good LORD go with you all.
 
Though I know not what awaits me
What the future has in store,
Yet I know that God, in His grace is faithful,
For I've proved Him often before.
 
 PRAY - Eternal LORD, in whose loving hands we live and move and have our being, help us raise our eyes above the turmoil of this world to You. Amen.