This Sunday, we have our annual meeting where we look at the past year and anticipate where God is leading us in the future. We have had a good year as we grow in becoming the people God calls us to be. This is not easy because the challenge to change is difficult when we prefer to stay the same. I am not referring to how we do church or in programs but a change in our hearts – being open to experiencing God's love and grace, confessing our sin, growing in serving others, and loving our enemies.
I think of this striking passage from the Prophet Zechariah.
“Thus says the Lord of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities. 21 The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the Lord and to seek the Lord of hosts; I myself am going.’ 22 Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the Lord. 23 Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”-- Zechariah 8:20-23
Imagine people in Loudoun County from many different economic, social, and political perspectives coming to us saying we want to go where you are going – we have heard God is with you. That is the church's vision for the Lord to be with us.
It is more than mostly saying the right things about God and trying to be nice to each other. The Lord is present when there is a deep sense of unity in the people of God, reverence in worship, kindness toward others, extravagant generosity in giving, and seeking and praying for those who do not know the love of Jesus.
The great joy in this coming year is that we can take a step closer to being the biblical community God is calling us to be. He loves us where we are; we are not trying to work hard to earn his forgiveness and mercy. It is unmerited – but he loves us so much. He has so much more for us as a church. I look forward to seeking the Lord the coming year and seeing what he has for us.
