I want to start this year by being reminded of what I said on the last Sunday of 2020. That Sunday, I shared about the past, the present and the future. The people of God were always encouraged to look at what the Lord did for them in the past. The victories won, the places they conquered and places where they met the Living LORD. Joshua, leading the nation to the promised land and crossing the river Jordan, was asked to collect twelve stones that will remind his and future generations of the Covenant and the faithfulness of God. (Joshua 4)

No one knows what this year will look like and no one knew back in January 2020 what was going to unfold. But what Joshua did as they were crossing the river Jordan was to set a precedent, he put down a marker for the present and the future saying that no matter what challenges they were to face, what battles they were to fight, they experienced God’s presence. How do we do that? Well, as they crossed the river, they were carrying the Ark of the Lord. The Ark of the Lord represents the Presence of the Lord. For us, this is the same, so that when we face this present and the future, we know that God’s Covenant is real, it is with us, and it will never change. God’s Covenant has a face, a name, it is Jesus.

I want us to be encouraged in the Lord in the same way God encouraged Joshua, “Be strong and very courageous.  Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.  Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.  Then you will be prosperous and successful. (Joshua 1:7-8 NIV).

We are living and enduring a more restricted lockdown. We are not able to meet in our place of worship for the next four Sundays. We must then take every step to keep ourselves safe. And as we live, the day to day, by faith let us encourage one another in the Lord letting our fears be drowned in our worship to Jesus. Let us believe what Paul said in Philippians 4:6-7.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”.

Rev. Dario Leal

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