New Year’s Letter 2019
“For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned” – Romans 12:3 (ESV).
Dear friends,
Thank you for your prayers.
I thank God for Louise’s successful spinal operation. We are relieved and very grateful to God for bringing her through this very major surgery.
We return to London for the sixth time – February 1st to July 31st– with Pastor Colin Dye of Kensington Temple. Fifteen years ago the late Dr. Michael Eaton told me I should deal with Colossians – a book I have never preached through. A few months ago our friend Bobby Conner said twice to me, “Every time I look at you I see Colossians”. In the mouth of two witnesses shall every word be established (2 Cor.13:1). I plan to preach through Colossians while in London, then repeat these at The Cove next August 26-30. Please pray for me that I will do justice to this book.
For reasons I won’t explain (for now) I have switched to the ESV = English Standard Version. In January 1986 at Westminster Chapel we switched from the KJV to the NIV. This is my third (surely the last!) change during my lifetime.
I have been reading Romans 12:3 everyday for two years in addition to my Robert Murray M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan (which I have followed for over 40 years). Romans 12:3 is most sobering and humbling to me, especially the older I get. It means we must come to terms with the limits of our calling. Nobody can do everything. I so want to accomplish more than I have. A hard question I ask almost daily: am I to believe prophecies given to me – or are they of the flesh? I wish I knew. So I read Romans 12:3 daily; it is practicing what I preach about the sovereignty of God. My heart aches for conditions of the church and the world around me. I feel I have done so little. But if God has more for me to do, I welcome it. If not, I must accept that He determines how long I live and what I accomplish in the meantime. I pray daily that I will not run ahead of the Lord like Joseph and Mary did (Luke 2:44). Running ahead of God is so easy to do.
It has been a wonderful year – busiest yet. I won’t go over what you may already know.
God bless you.
Warmest greetings from all of us
R.T., Louise, T. R., Annette, Toby, Timothy, Ty, Melissa and Rex.