Dear Praying Friends:

On my way to Cilfowyr Chapel this morning, I was singing this song: "Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised. In the city of our God, on the mountain of His holiness, beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, the city of the Great King." — Psalm 48:1-2

As I sang, the phrase "Beautiful for situation" came to mind, and I reflected on how it applies to the church—the body of Christ worldwide—today. We are living in a time of distress and challenges, yet we stand within the unfolding plans of God. As we look toward Mount Zion and the new Jerusalem—the city of God—we find encouragement in what it prophetically symbolizes: the body of Christ.

Just yesterday, I finished reading Revelation and was struck by its description of the new Jerusalem. The city’s gates are never closed, and the kings of the earth bring the riches and glories of what is outside into it. This made me think about how we, in our daily lives, bring offerings to God—our worship, our times in His word, and our giving of thanks. Each moment we spend with Him becomes an act of bringing treasures into His presence.

When we testify about Jesus or share His love with someone, we are contributing to the treasures of the body of Christ. As believers, we are built up in God through hymns, spiritual songs, and revelations, and we don’t need to be in one central place to do it. We are part of a global body. For instance, if someone in the South China Sea experiences a revelation and gives glory to God, we are immediate recipients of that spiritual input into this new Jerusalem.

Then I thought back to the Old Testament, where offerings and sacrifices were central acts of worship. They were about consecration, setting oneself apart, and bringing glory to God. Today, the principle is the same, but the offerings are different. Romans 12:1 says, "Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God."

As we walk through life, every interaction can become an act of worship. If the treasure within us—God’s Spirit—shines through in our actions, those become our offerings and sacrifices. Living in the presence of God, we are these sacrifices, contributing to the treasure of the body of Christ.

The church is strengthened day by day, word by word, and believer by believer as we fulfill the unique roles God has given each of us. This is the beauty of our situation: wherever we are, whatever we’re going through, we can glorify God, contribute to the body of Christ, and prepare for the Lord’s return.

Hallelujah! May God bless and empower you in this brand-new year as we walk together in faith!

Dick & Gladys