What’s in a name?

“Behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”  Matthew 1:20-21

The image of Jesus is found in a variety of forms this type of year, everything from crystal to plastic.  Similarly, there are nearly as many opinions about who Jesus is and what He came to do.  Some describe Jesus as a wise teacher, while to others He was simply a good man.  While such things are true, Jesus came to do more than simply teach and do good things.  When the angel appeared to Joseph, he directs the surrogate father to give the Child the name Jesus, “for He will save His people from their sins.”

As we begin a new year, even a new decade, we do so in the Lord’s name.  Everything that we undertake we do so invoking the Lord’s name and asking Him to bless.  What a comfort to know that we face each year, each joy, each struggle with Jesus.  For Jesus has indeed saved us from our sins by His death and resurrection and by our baptism into that death and resurrection.  We have been saved from our mistakes from the past and the perils that await us in the future.  We face this new year confident that Jesus is the fulfillment of what had been long promised in the person and work of Jesus.

We do not know what things will transpire in the new year and even how much life will change over the next decade.  But we know that we are blessed to be able to call on the name of our Savior Jesus each day.  2020 will bring a presidential election and other potential changes.  But thanks be to God that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.  May Jesus, your Savior, be your constant and your strength each day!

Prayer – Lord God, You made Your beloved Son, our Savior, subject to the Law and caused Him to shed His blood on our behalf.  Grant us the true circumcision of the Spirit that our hearts may be made pure from all sins; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen. 

Fraternally in Christ,

President Lee Hagan