As we enter this new year, we are presented with a fresh opportunity. On this last Sunday of January, I invite you to reflect on one thing you would ask from the Lord.
Psalm 27:4 states: “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.” This verse, spoken by King David—a man after God’s own heart—highlights a profound desire: to behold the beauty of the Lord.
Have you ever considered how beautiful our God is? We often focus on His power, faithfulness, and goodness, but what about His beauty? In our modern culture, beauty is often equated with external appearances. However, when David speaks of the beauty of the Lord, he refers to something much deeper than superficial aesthetics.
In fact, Isaiah 53:2b tells us that the Messiah had no beauty that we would desire. The beauty of the Lord encompasses qualities that resonate with our very being—kindness, grace, integrity, and the restoration of relationships. It is an inner beauty that reflects God’s presence and offers us a sacred encounter with the divine.
As we envision 2025, what do you see? I hope for you a year filled with joy, laughter, and the fulfillment of your desires through God’s grace. Yet, we must also acknowledge that hardships and suffering will inevitably come. Many of us are facing loss, health challenges, relational crises, and fears about the future. The uncertainty of our circumstances can be overwhelming.
King David understood this fear. Surrounded by threats, he asked, “Whom shall I fear?” His prayer was not primarily about escaping his enemies or removing stress from his life. Instead, he sought to dwell in the house of the Lord, to behold His beauty, and to worship Him. This intentional discipline of focusing on God’s beauty is what I call “Prophetic Imagination.”
In 2025, our ministry theme is ‘Prophetic Imagination: Behold the Beauty of the Lord.’ We are all called to be prophets in this world—not merely defined as predictors of the future, but as those who see and find God in every circumstance. Prophets are individuals who interpret the world through the lens of Jesus and His Kingdom, acknowledging His control over all things.
Peter describes this prophetic role in Acts 2:17, stating that in the last days, “Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.” As followers of Christ, we are representatives of the Messiah--chief Priest, Ruler and Prophet, called to declare His reign and to see His beauty in all things.
Consider the world around us. It may seem filled with ruins—suffering, injustice, and despair. Yet, as prophets, we are called to see His beauty amidst the ashes. We are to paint hope and creativity, even in the darkest times. This is not mere optimism; it is a profound understanding of the future promised to us through Christ.
The prophet Isaiah lived in a chaotic society, yet he envisioned a world where predators and prey coexist in peace. This prophetic imagination reflects the Kingdom of God, where all nations come together under the reign of Jesus.
Willie Jennings, African American theologian, reminds us that “Hope is not a sentiment. It is a discipline.” It is a discipline for Jesus-followers to find Christ in every situation, to create beauty and hope even amidst despair.
Remember, you and I are prophets, called to live with prophetic imagination. We are to see and find Christ in all things, painting hope in a world that often feels hopeless.
Next week, we will begin a mini-sermon series titled “Eyes to See: The Holy Spirit at Work,” exploring what it means to live by the Spirit today. We will also delve into the book of Revelation, learning how to see Jesus in our current context. Throughout the year, we will study Genesis, Exodus, and the prophets of the Old Testament, seeking to apply how they found hope in challenging times.
Let us remember our calling: to be prophets who live with prophetic imagination.
