“Blessed are all who take refuge in him” (Psalm 2:12b).
Wrapped in that little word “blessed” is wholeness, gladness, and happiness. It is all the things that we once thought a new year or new you would bring us, but they never did. And here it is, the very thing our souls ache for. And we find it by taking refuge in Christ. How do we do this?
Jesus is our King! Serving him is taking refuge. Giving our lives to him, submitting wholly to him, staking all our hope on him, and trusting in his perfect power and patience is a refuge in every circumstance, come what may.
He is a refuge because he laughs in the face of a chaotic, rebellious world.
He is a refuge because he does not forget our troubles or take evil lightly.
He is a refuge because he sits on his throne in majestic holiness.
And He is a refuge because he set aside that glory to step into this world of upheaval and unease and injustice and sin and anxiety and “made peace through the blood of his cross.” (Colossians 1:20)
He is a refuge because at the cross he defeated sin and death.
And he is a refuge because no man-centered, self-aggrandizing power scheme can touch him and he will deal mightily with every evil and injustice in his perfect timing.
He is not a distant refuge rather He is an “ever-present help in times of trouble” (Psalm 46:1)
He does not offer theoretical hope or peace rather “he himself is our peace” (Eph. 2:14) and has “caused us to be born again to a living hope through his resurrection.” (1 Peter 1:3)
Our King is unbothered and unworried even as he is immeasurably merciful and gracious. We fear him and rejoice in him as we take refuge in him going into this new year.
Notable Sermons From 2023
Here at Immanuel, we thank God for the rich ministry of gospel proclamation. If you are new to Immanuel and are looking for a few sermons to kick off your new year, check out this list of the most replayed Immanuel sermons from 2023.
Amen!