Bern, December 2018. As we look around us, we realize that there are a lot of distressed, discouraged, and hopeless people.
Many of them try to compensate for their discouragement and anxiety with all kinds of means, which sometimes lead them into an even worse condition.
Let us take advantage of this season of the year, in which families gather together to celebrate and evoke the incarnation of Jesus Christ, to focus our attention not only on His birth and the events connected to His childhood.
Let us take the time for a deeper and more meaningful reflection on His life, His death, His resurrection, and His ministry in heaven on our behalf, as our mediator.
Let us remember that the incarnation of Jesus was meant to save and fully integrate human beings into the family of God, helping them fulfill their most essential needs and grow to their full potential.
Through Jesus, God has accomplished what he had promised through the prophet Isaiah and was confirmed by Jesus, himself, in the beginning of His ministry:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the prisoners and recovery of the sight to the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
In just a few days, the current year will come to an end, and a new year will start.
I would like to encourage our Adventist family to take advantage of this period of the year to reflect upon Jesus’ incarnation and ministry. To follow His example of taking concrete steps to be involved, as He did, in helping people to get to know Him. He is the source of life, love, truth, joy, peace and hope – the best antidote for the growing distress, discouragement, and hopelessness.
Let me share with you a promise of God, which He eagerly expects to be accomplished in the life of each one of us:
“I will take you by the hand and you will be a light to guide the nations.”
Have a blessed New Year as, in cooperation with God, you endeavor to accomplish the mission He has entrusted us!
Mario Brito
President
