God's Grace is Relentless
Pastor's Message, January 2025
Psalm 90:12-17
Teach us to number our days,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Relent, Lord! How long will it be?
Have compassion on your servants.
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad in all our days.
Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
for as many years as we have seen trouble.
May your deeds be shown to your servants,
your splendor to their children.
May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;
establish the work of our hands for us -
yes, establish the work of our hands.
The calendar now says 2025. Where did the time go??
I wonder if Moses got to the end of the 40 years and said, "Where did the time go?" I have a hard time thinking, 'time flies when you're having fun' was a common saying.
Moses was very aware of God's grace and God's anger. We see him flipping back and forth between
the two in these verses from Psalm 90. God's anger can be relentless! 40 years in the wilderness. An entire generation died during those 40 years. Death. Enemies. Homeless. Trouble and affliction followed a
people who kept refusing to trust their God and grumbled against him through all the troubles and affliction.
God's grace is just as relentless. He protected them from their enemies. He satisfied hunger with
manna and thirst from rocks. His favor kept warning the people of their sin and taking them back
to his promises of forgiveness. They were glad They crossed the Jordan and entered the land God promised.
What was 2024 like? Was it a year of satisfaction and joy? What is a year of trouble and affliction?
Like Moses, we are also aware of God's anger and God's grace. The passing of another year is a good
time to listen as our God teaches us to "number our days." Each year, each day, each minute brings us
closer to the promises of heaven. Each time we're afflicted, we're reminded of how serious sin is, sin
that could grumble and complain until we've lost God's promise. Then comes God's favor! Each time
he comforts us, we're reminded of how serious God's grace is, grace that engulfs us with compassion and unfailing love.
2025 will be no different. We know God's grace will bless and support us, even during those times when we need God's anger to get us back on track. And so, we begin another year with this prayer:
"May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;
establish the work of our hands for us -
yes, establish the work of our hands.
Amen. So shall it be!
Pastor Galen Riediger
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