Editorial by Karen Senecal
Sacrifice. It’s an old-fashioned word, and sometimes it becomes an old-fashioned concept. Our modern world bombards us with ways to spend our time and money on ourselves. Getting more and having more consumes more of our time and energy. But God calls us to surrender to Him, sacrifice our wants and put Him first.
Editorial by Jenevieve “Jenna” Lettsome
In what can be seen by many as a faith-destroying time, stories of answered prayer and God’s love continue to shield me, protect my faith and remind me that God still exists and is bigger than life itself.
Like many grateful believers before me—in the Bible and beyond Scripture—I am impressed to tangibly give back and praise God, not just for my life, but the lives and world around me.
Editorial by Jorge Aguero
The title of this editorial—a combination of God’s call to the prophet Isaiah and the Great Commission—implies obedience, consecration, dedication, surrender, perseverance and intentionality.
Isaiah 6:8 reads, “Then I heard the Lord asking, ‘Whom shall I send as a messenger to my people? Who will go?’ And I said, ‘Lord, I’ll go! Send me’” (TLB). Knowing that the “the harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few” (Luke 10:2, KJV), the Lord asks the same question in the midst of this pandemic: “Who will go?”
The Lord’s soon return is evidenced by unprecedented natural disasters, social chaos, fear and anguish. Jesus says, “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28, KJV). But for the Lord to come, the preaching of the gospel to every nation, tribe and language must be fulfilled (Matthew 24:14; Revelation 14:6).
Editorial by Bill MillerIn the animal kingdom, species like wallabies and aardvarks are not thought to be creatures of hope, rather creatures of instinct. National Geographic hasn’t spotted them writing New Year’s resolutions or making birthday wishes, rather “wallabying” and “aardvarking” until they die, generally living one survival moment to the next. To truly hope is to be human.
At the beginning of a new year, we look to the future with hope and optimism. “This year will be different!” we think. “This year, I resolve to ... ,” and we insert a task to accomplish or a different mindset. Coming out of a particularly tough 2020, many of us hope for a simpler, less anxiety-provoking 2021, because we don’t hope in the past—we hope in the future.
God’s grace allows us to hope and be creators of our own future. Galatians 6:7–8 reminds us that the choices we make today determine some of our outcomes for tomorrow: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life” (NIV).
Editorial by Gary Gibbs
On a warm fall morning last year, I awoke to Pennsylvania’s beautiful rolling hills and mountains enshrouded in a thick fog. That day, the familiar landscape, just a hundred yards away, vanished in the mist. Similarly, as we enter 2021, the months before us are hidden in mystery. Its blessings, opportunities and dangers will only come into focus as time lifts the veil.