2020 is the worst! Or is it?

Dear Mosaic Family,

2020 has been a year full of bad news. Or has it? What if I told you that all the difficulties of this past year are actually good news? What if I told you they’re actually the best news? What if I told you that 2020 is undeniable proof that God deeply loves us as His children, and that as a good Father, He will do whatever it takes to bring us home, not merely safe and sound, but holy and whole?

Hebrews 12:5-7

5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
    nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
    and chastises every son whom he receives.”

7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

Psalm 119:71

“It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.” 

We might not be able to say that 2020 has been fun, but can we say it has been good? Maybe this is the year you finally learned how to pray, because you had no other choice. Maybe this is the year that God humbled your self-reliance on your flesh, and taught you to live by His Spirit. Maybe this is the year that you finally understood the words our Lord spoke to the Apostle Paul when he said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” If so, then I would say it has been pretty good!

Let's be honest though, perhaps you're not there. Maybe you feel like this year has been a waste. Malachi wrote primarily to a people whose hardships had led to hardening. They couldn’t see the benefits of following God with their eyes, so they pushed Him out of their hearts. They grew bitter, cynical, and disillusioned. Like the Prodigal son, they were weary of their Father’s rules and wanted to run away from home.

Malachi concludes with words of judgment and hope that both melt the cold hardened hearts and fill the tender softened hearts with courage. He reminds the people that God is a good Father, and as a good Father, He disciplines us for our own good and sanctification. God is a skilled craftsman and He holds us in the fire not to destroy us, but to refine so that we won’t be destroyed by the ultimate fire of His Judgement that is yet to come. This judgement will come, and it will bring the wicked into eternal destruction, but for now God is being patient and giving all people time to repent. This is the hope that sustains us through the flames, and this is reason Scripture can tell us to rejoice in our sufferings.

James 1:1-2

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Please join us this Sunday at 9:30AM or 11:30AM as we conclude our series on the book of Malachi (Malachi 3:13-4:6), worship together, and prepare our hearts to enter the season of Advent!

With Love,
Pastor Shane

This Week's Announcements

Mini Mo Reopening

Sundays, 9:30 & 11:30 am

We are offering childcare for children 0-4 years old during the 9:30 & 11:30 am services.. We will be opening childcare through 5th grade during the 9:30 am service beginning this Sunday, November 22! Capacity is limited so please visit our website for more information and to reserve your spot.

We are also looking for more volunteers for our Mini Mosaic team. If you are interested, you can find more information and sign-up on our website.

Songs for Sunday 

If you would like to know what we'll be singing on Sunday, you can find the playlist here.

Reopening Process

For a full overview of our reopening process and the safety standards that we have in place, visit:
https://brookline.mosaicboston.com/covid-19.