Today marks the beginning of a new church year and the season of Advent. In our sermon lesson for today, Paul gives us some commands that he claims apply in every situation: rejoice, and do not be anxious. But how can he command us to do things that seem so impossible? Those commands are rooted in a statement right in the middle of this text: The Lord is Near. And because of that, his presence shapes our priorities, and his peace guards our hearts and minds.
