23rd January 2024

23rd January 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (Ecclesiastes 3v1-8)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


Orthodox Christian belief does not assert that God made the universe and then disappeared from view. Instead, we believe that the Lord rules over and governs that which He has made. Even more, nothing happens in this world that falls outside of God's will. We call this providence and the shorter catechism defines providence like this "God’s works of providence are, His most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all His creatures, and all their actions." The larger catechism also adds "ordering them, and all their actions, to His own glory."


In other words, there is nothing that overtakes you, good or bad that isn't ordered and governed by the Lord. Solomon once described providence so beautifully that in recent history his words have been put to music by Pete Seeger and then more famously by the Byrds.


What did Solomon say about providence? "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die;a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal;a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh;a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose;a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate;a time for war, and a time for peace." (v1-8)


Solomon's list isn't an exhaustive one but nevertheless, he gave a tremendous summary of life's contours and I'm certain that much of what he said still resonates with us. Just as we are born, so too we must die. Just as there are times of sadness, so too there are times of joy. Just as we mourn at funerals, so too we will dance at weddings.


Neither your life or mine is exclusively good or bad. I know we much prefer the good days but only a fool believes that we'll only ever know sunshine. When I consider life's difficulties I'm incredibly thankful for God's providence. I am not captive to fate, I am not unlucky and I am not being punished by the universe. Instead, I trust a God who loves me, gave His Son for me and even now governs my life in such a way that He knows how many hairs are on my head  (Matthew 10v30).


C.H. Spurgeon once spoke about providence in this way "I believe that every particle of dust that dances in the sunbeam does not move an atom more or less than God wishes." I believe this too and it makes me glad. The universe is in God's hand and even the bad will work out for our good (Romans 8v28). There is a time for everything under the sun. May the Lord strengthen our faith to receive both the sunny and the stormy days.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q49 Which is the second commandment? The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me: and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
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