BITS and PIECES
275th Edition – December 28, 2025
A random collection of news and views compiled by Frank McClelland for the Toronto Free Presbyterian Church.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
We wish all our readers a happy New Year. It seems like only yesterday we were anticipating the difficulties of Y2K as we entered a new millennium, and many were predicting computer chaos. But here we are, twenty-six years later, echoing Paul’s words to King Agrippa, “we continue to this day, witnessing both to small and great” [Acts 26:22]
THE NEW YEAR BECKONS
A New Year! Another twelve months have run their course, never to be repeated. The old year’s joys and sorrows are no more. Its hopes and aspirations are gone forever.
The hymn reminds us that “time like an ever-rolling stream bears all its sons away.” We are quickly passing through time on our way to eternity. “Only one life ‘twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.”
For some, the hopes and aspirations of the old year have been amply fulfilled. They can say with gladness that it has been a good year. For others, it was as Queen Elizabeth once said, “Annis horribilis” – not so good!
Now, however, we begin a New Year with fresh hopes and challenges. Let us discard the baggage of the past and approach the new with joyful trust in the grace of the Lord.
This is a good time for personal stocktaking, a time to examine our lives, a time to remember that as followers of Christ, we must give account to Him.
Throughout this new year, let us consider the newness of our Christian faith and practice. What wealth lies in our future at our fingertips! May we learn not to complain but to count our blessings in the midst of trials and thank God for them. If we do, we shall arrive at the end of 2026 praising the Lord for His great goodness and grace. He blesses us “from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year” [Deut. 11:12].
THE POSSIBILIES OF BELIEF
“Jesus said unto him, if thou canst believe, all things are possible” [Mark 9:23].
Our unbelief is the greatest hindrance in our way; in fact, there is no other real difficulty as to our spiritual progress and prosperity. The Lord can do everything: but when He makes a rule that according to our faith so shall it be unto us, our unbelief ties the hands of His omnipotence.
Yes, the confederacies of evil shall be scattered if we can but believe. Despised truth shall lift its head if we will but have confidence in the God of truth. We can bear our load of trouble, or pass uninjured through the waves of distress, if we can gird our loins with the girdle of peace, that girdle which is buckled on by the hands of trust.
What can we not believe? Is everything possible except believing in God? Yet He is always true; why do we not believe Him? He is always faithful to His word; why can we not trust Him? When we are in a right state of heart, faith costs no effort: It is then as natural for us to rely upon God as for a child to trust its father.
The worst of it is that we can trust God about everything except the present trial. This is folly. Come, my soul, shake off such sinfulness, and trust thy God with the load, the labour, the longing of this present. This done, all is done. [Spurgeon’s Cheque Book].
GOOD NEWS FOR THE WORST OF MEN
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” [I Timothy 1:15].
Paul had a considerable national and religious background of which he could boast, but from the moment he was converted to Christ all he could say was that he was the “chief of sinners.”
God’s salvation does not fill a man with pride, but rather the opposite. Religions of works fill their practitioners with feelings of self-sufficiency, but the true Christian is filled with humility.
In salvation, eternity is there, for He came from eternity. The humanity of Christ is there too, for He came into this world to fulfill His great purpose of saving sinners. His personality is there for He is Jesus the Saving One and Christ the anointed One.
Dear reader, as you enter a New Year, do you know the saving power of Christ? The years have rolled by, and perhaps you have not yielded to Him. Before another day dawns, confess your need, repent of your sins, and ask Christ to save you. It is a worthy Gospel, and He is a great Saviour.
Hallelujah!
