My prayer for each of us is that we would grow spiritually in this new year. May God grant that each of us will grow closer to Him than ever before in 2023. May He grant that we would grow in love for Him and for one another. May He grant that we would advance in spiritual wisdom and insight. I pray that the richest blessings of God will be upon you, your family, and this church.
One powerful way that God brings these rich blessings into our lives is through the assembly of the saints on the Lord’s Day. Coming together for worship draws our hearts closer to God. Coming together for worship gives us an opportunity to build up and encourage one another. It gives us strength for the trials and temptations that we face. As we gather to offer up our hearts in thanksgiving to God, He will bless us. As we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us.
On the other hand, if we are not faithful in coming to worship, we will certainly miss out on the blessings that God intends for us. When we neglect worship, we will be weakened spiritually over time. We will be in great danger of drifting away from the Lord.
I want to encourage you today to renew your commitment to assembling with the church each Lord’s Day. There is nothing better that you could do for yourself in the new year. Now is a wonderful time to make coming to worship a priority. Let us not come merely out of habit, but let us come actively seeking to offer our hearts to Him in praise. Let us come actively seeking to encourage and strengthen one another. Let us come actively seeking to mold our lives to His word. As the writer of Hebrews says, “and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24–25 NAS95)
Happy new year! May your soul prosper in 2023.
—Scott Colvin
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