The new year is once again under way, and, if you’re anything like me, this time of year can feel like a bit of a let-down. The tree is gone, the stockings are packed away, and the final post-Christmas-clearance bargain has been scored. New Year’s Eve is a distant memory—whether you made it ‘til midnight or were in your jammies by eight—and the hard work of keeping those new resolutions begins.

But while January can feel like an after-thought, this month—like every month—is filled with fresh opportunities to glorify God and show love to our neighbors. We’ll have a day this month to grieve abortion and, as our feature article reminds us, to reach out to those in our churches who are “grappling with haunting cycles of shame and regret despite what we know to be true about sin, forgiveness, and grace.” We’ll also have a day to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. and to continue combatting racism in our churches and homes. All month long, we’ll have opportunities to share the gospel with our friends and neighbors, and opportunities to enjoy Christ more fully in his Word.

It might be the cold, dark days of winter, but gospel truth shines brightly, and we have good work to do by its light.