We’ve all heard it sung. We’ve all perhaps sung it ourselves, but I wonder if we ever really contemplate ‘Auld Lang Syne’?

The song comes from an old Scottish poem written by Robert Burns in 1788. As we all know it is often sung on New Year’s Eve at midnight. ‘Auld Lang Syne’ literally means "old long since", but a more natural English translation would be something like ‘long long ago’, ‘days of long ago’, or ‘olden days’. In the connotation of New Years a modern expression could be, ‘For old times' sake’, or ‘To the (good) old days’, or ‘To days (or times) gone by’, which would certainly capture the spirit of Auld Lang Syne.

The song begins by posing the question whether it is right that old times be forgotten, and is generally interpreted as a call to remember long-standing friendships. How fitting it is, I think, that we should come out of the Christmas season with a call to remember long-standing friendships.

As we look toward the New Year 2010 before us, may we all be reminded of not only the Christ Child that came to Bethlehem, but also the Christ that died on Calvary, to provide a propitiation for our sin. May this remembrance of something so profound, so miraculous, and so humbling keep us ever yearning to serve the one who saved us. May we all reach out to those we know and be unselfish in our mission to make disciples of all nations as is our charge before man and God.

We all have a ministry. We all have people in our lives that we uniquely are acquainted with. We all have been put in each location and opportunity by a divine God who is in charge of it all, and who never does anything without reason. Take every opportunity this year to seek God’s will and recognize His providence in everything. You might be the only person to ever be in a position to share the gospel to people in your circle of influence. Don’t let opportunities pass you by. We at Berean Watchmen believe that we are running out of time.

May the Lord richly bless each of you as you go forth in ministry in 2010.

Now go serve your King.

- J.R. Hall