2nd May 2024

2nd May 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (Hebrews 13v8)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


Happy anniversary Edengrove! On this day 250 years ago our congregation was officially born. The world was a radically different place back then. King George III was on the throne, the naughty American colonies were slowly moving to outright rebellion, Captain Cook was sailing the world, a general election returned Frederick North as Prime Minister and on a slightly less serious note, the first ever pair of Birkenstock sandals were created by Johann Birkenstock in a small German village called Langen-Bergheim.


Few outside of our congregation will report that 1774 also saw the birth of 2nd Ballynahinch Presbyterian Church, but today we are thankful but certainly not arrogant. As we celebrate this significant day our cry remains "Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!" (Psalm 115v1).


I'm humbled as I consider that the Lord Jesus had a plan for our church from the beginning of time. Long before there was a place called Ballynahinch, the Lord knew every single day that He had planned for us (Psalm 139v16). He knows every person who has or will ever walk through our doors, every sermon ever been preached and every precious soul who has or will be converted under the Gospel proclaimed in our church. Indeed, this same Jesus knows all about our 250th anniversary and even if we don't see another one, we can be abundantly thankful to Christ for His faithfulness from our first day to this one.


Jesus is the same today as He has always been and I offer this simple daily devotion with two hopes in mind. Firstly, if you find yourself today as an enemy of Christ then understand your need of His grace. I cannot tell you the name of the first convert to Jesus in Edengrove and I cannot tell you who will be the last. Even so, we have been given this day and Christ remains the same. My friend, would you not pause today and consider Jesus? Would you not turn to Him to have your sins forgiven? Would you not call upon the eternal Christ who has been saving sinners from the beginning? I pray that you will mark this day by repenting of your sin and believing the Gospel.


To my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I call you simply to rejoice. I will not tell you about our fellowship's strengths nor will I speak of her weaknesses. Instead, I remember Jesus who hasn't changed since the day He began our church. I ask you to do the same. Find a few quiet moments today to praise Him and to consider His faithfulness to our little church.


I told you this on Tuesday but I remind you just now...Christ Jesus is greater than we can possibly imagine. He is the same yesterday, today and forever and so we sing "Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!" (Psalm 115v1).


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q28 Wherein consisteth Christ’s exaltation? Christ’s exaltation consisteth in his rising again from the dead on the third day, in ascending up into heaven, in sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and in coming to judge the world at the last day.
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