28th February 2026


Pray (ACts) 


Read (Hebrews 11)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


Did you know that Adam and Eve were the first members of the church of Jesus Christ?  They were and their son Abel was also a man of faith and even though he died at his brother's hand, he will one day stand again upon this earth. The Covenant of Grace did not begin with the coming of Christ just as the Church did not begin at Pentecost. 


As we read Hebrews 11 two words constantly jump out as the Apostle discusses Old Testament believers "by faith." From Abel (v4) to the unnamed saints of the final verses the passage is clear, that all of them found their commendation (the favour of God) by faith (v39). Certainly Christ had not yet taken on flesh but He was on His way and the saved in the Old Testament looked forward to His arrival. 


In the Old Testament, the Covenant of Grace was active and effective, yet it was administered differently than today. Back then it was administered by promises, prophecies, sacrifices, circumcision, the passover lamb, and other types and ordinances. All of these pointed forward to the Christ who was to come. Paul speaks of the baptism of those who followed Moses and the fact that such men and women drank from the spiritual Rock who was Christ (1 Corinthians 10v1-4). There is a unity among God's people. We are not divided between Old and New Testament, instead we are united by the Covenant of Grace. 


As the Gospel was proclaimed to the nations and Jew and Gentile alike came to know Christ as their Saviour, there was great tension within the church. Even Peter was dragged into the controversy and would refuse to eat with Gentile Christians when Jewish Christians were present (Galatians 2v11-12). Should Christians follow the practices of the Old Testament? Paul's answer was no. Such conduct would not be in step with the Gospel (Galatians 2v14). Christ has come and everything has changed. The types, signs and shadows have found their substance in Jesus (Colossians 2v17).


Gentiles may have at one time been separated from Christ (Ephesians 2v12) but that is no longer the case. Christ is the peace of His people (Ephesians 2v14) and has reconciled both Jew and Gentile to God by His cross (Ephesians 2v16). If anyone has ever been saved, it is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. The Covenant of Grace stretches from Eden to this present day, from Adam and Eve to the last person who will ever be saved. One church for whom Christ died. Men and women from every corner of this world and all of them, every single one, a recipient of the unrivalled and unparalleled grace of God. 


Pray (acTS) 


Sing 


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Q3 What do the Scriptures principally teach? The Scriptures principally teach, what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.
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27th February 2026


Pray (ACts)


Read (John 4:1-15 focus v11-15)


Message (Alan Burke)


We have a sand pit that sits round the back of the house and it’s on my todo list to sort out. What happened is that during a windy night a while back the lid mysteriously disappeared, like someone had come and nicked it, there was a thief someone lurking about during the night to see what they could take lift. Obviously it was the wind and it’s probably been blown somewhere that in years to come people will wonder where that came from. I’ve had to go into the golf corse opposite the Manse on a few occasion to lift stuff that seems to have landed there after the wains forgot to put it away. Back to the sandpit before you get an essay on stuff that is nothing to do with the point I’m trying to make, well the sand pit without having a lid is filled with water, it’s green, smelly, it’s got bits growing in it and I think I’ll bottle it and you can have a big quenching drink. Maybe not. 


Water is important especially in the kind of climate this Samaritan woman lived. She has been asked by Jesus for a drink of water and he has tried to take her speak to her of spiritual truths, offering her living water. The thing is to her living water would have been the like of the water from the well where they were beside, living water being the opposite of stagnant water. Jesus though wasn’t talking about water the comes from the tap, or flows in streams or rivers, or comes from springs, instead he was talking about the living water is that of eternal life.


Here it is clear that the woman had not understood. Just like with the temple authorities and with Nicodemus. This Samaritan woman had not understood that the living water Jesus offered her was the fountain of living water, the well of salvation, all who drink of him have eternal life that comes from God alone. She knew that there was no other sources of living water where she was, there were no other wells. And as a result she makes the point that Jesus had nothing to draw water with and the well is deep, today it is over 100ft deep. Her question to Jesus but asks where can you get this water, her question is where can I get this living, fresh water. 


She had misunderstood, she did not understand the one whom had asked here the question, he supposes all who came before him. But Jesus was not offering water from a well or a spring, he was offering the water of eternal life, offering her to drink of the fountain of living water, the well of salvation, all who drink of him have eternal life that comes from God alone. This water is a spring that wells up to eternal life. It is a spring that meets our thirst in this life, a thirst that everyone has but they try to fill with things that can never bring satisfaction. Are you looking to fulfil the thirst that you have with the things of this world, looking for satisfaction in possession, money, relationships, alcohol, food, you will never find true satisfaction in those things, you can only find it in Christ. 


Pray (acTS)


Sing


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Q2 What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?
A. The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.
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26th February 2026


Pray (ACts) 


Read (Ephesians 2v1-10)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


The Covenant of Works died in the garden of Eden. It once offered eternal life to Adam and those who came after him based on Adam's perfect and personal obedience. But after Adam's sin the Covenant of Works could only condemn. What was needed was another Adam who would be completely obedient and offer a perfect sacrifice to pay for our sins. Christ would be the second Adam whose works are righteous in the sight of God. 


Wonderful. Christ has done it all and therefore we're all okay! Sadly no. Broadly speaking 
"universalism" teaches that God is love and therefore everyone will one day get to heaven. 
Needless to say I reject universalism in all of its forms. Christ died for His people alone and it is as Paul says "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,  even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved." (v4-5).


This is why we speak of the Covenant of Grace. Salvation is not dependent upon our works, instead it depends upon the grace of God. Grace is God's unmerited favour to those who deserve His wrath. Let's simplify that statement. Grace is unmerited or in other words we have done nothing to deserve it. Grace is God's unmerited favour or in other words He loves us and approves of us. Grace is extended to those who deserve God's wrath or in other words we deserve God's righteous and holy anger but instead we receive His grace. This is what we mean when we speak of God's grace. 


Christ's sacrifice is all of grace. When we were weak, Christ died for the ungodly (Romans 5v6) and to know the benefits of His sacrifice we must receive Him by faith. Faith is a receiving and resting in Christ as He is offered in the Gospel. It is a gift of God so that no one may boast (v8). It is the means by which we enjoy the Covenant of Grace and saving faith is worked in us by the Holy Spirit who makes us willing and able to believe (John 6v44). 


Even as the Covenant of Works lay destroyed in Eden, the Covenant of Grace was proclaimed by God Himself. Weak, sinful humanity could not save themselves. By their own works they had been faced with a sinful chasm that no amount of time or progress or human advancement could bridge. But God, at the right time, sent His only begotten Son who would pay the price for our sin. Salvation is all of God and, praise be, it is all of grace.  


Pray (acTS) 


Sing 


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Q1 What is the chief end of man? Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.
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25th February 2026


Pray (ACts)


Read (John 4:1-15 focus v7-10)


Message (Alan Burke)


Today I’m in Malaga. Well not as I write this devotion but as you read it. Is it raining again? It feels like all that it’s done since the beginning of January. Maybe you’ll remember the nursery rhyme; Rain, rain go away, Come again another day. Little Alan wants to play; Rain, rain, go to Spain, Never show your face again! Well DON’T be saying that until I get home. Not that it would really make a difference to the constant wet weather we have been having. But we have water in abundance, we don’t have water charges yet and I think the main reason why we don’t is because we’d all be raging paying for something that literally falls out of the sky and doesn’t ever seem to stop. It wasn’t like that in the Samaria nor is it today in that region. Water was not abundant like it is here today, wells and springs were important and this well where Jesus met the Samaritan woman would have played an important part of the life of many. 


The fact that this Samaritan woman comes to draw water at the hottest part of the day, by herself, shows to us that all is not right. She’s there at a time of the day to avoid her neighbours. She was a woman who was of ill repute yet Jesus’ desire to avoid the Pharisees and this woman desired to avoid her neighbours brings about this God ordained encounter. Initially we are told how Jesus asks her, “Will you give me a drink?”. This was a big cultural taboo, not only was it a woman that Jesus spoke to but also a Samaritan woman. For a Jewish reader or hearer of what is going on here in John 4 they would have expected that Jesus wouldn’t have even acknowledged this woman’s existence never mind speak to her or ask for a drink, maybe even go as far as curse her. 


This encounter for the Jew would have been something so counter cultural, to them Jesus either had lost his mind or was on something. Even touching a vessel that a Samaritan touched would have defiled him, made him unclean. But Jesus isn’t concerned. The reason is that it is not what we come in contact with that makes us unclean and unable to approach God, the issue is our hearts are unclean. (See Mk 7:14–15).


Jesus totally ignores her question, and moves the conversation from the physical to the Spiritual. Saying v10 “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” The gift of God comes through the one that this Samaritan woman is speaking to, the one who asked her for a drink, and it is the gift of eternal life. If she had known the fulness of who Jesus was she would have asked but she did not. 


Just as before to speak of spiritual realities, Jesus speaks figuratively. He had done it with the temple authorities, he had done it with Nicodemus. The question is will this Samaritan woman comprehend the wonder of what Jesus is offering her, will she comprehend the wonder of whom she is in the presence off, the true God and true man who comes to offer her living water? Jesus the one that she is before, is the fountain of living water, the well of salvation, all who drink of him have eternal life. Have you drank of him, have you eternal life, for it is the only way that we receive eternal life is through him. He comes to give living water, this life and the things in it will never give satisfaction only Christ can.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


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Q107 What doth the conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer teach us?
A. The conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer, which is, For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen,” teacheth us to take our encouragement in prayer from God only, and in our prayers to praise him, ascribing kingdom, power, and glory to him; and in testimony of our desire and assurance to be heard, we say, Amen.
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24th February 2026


Pray (ACts) 


Read (Genesis 3v14-15)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


If someone ever wrongs you then common wisdom says that you learn your lesson and never allow that person to get the better of you again. "Fool me once" we say "then shame on you. Fool me twice, then shame on me." Today we can be thankful that the Lord did not adopt this approach. 


Throughout Scripture we see the Lord willingly lowering Himself to our level and dealing with us by way of covenant. To understand the Bible you must understand covenant and as Presbyterians we recongise two covenants. The Covenant of Redemption is a promise made in eternity past between the three persons of the Trinity. The Father chooses a people, the Son dies for them and the Spirit draws them to the Son. This covenant should be considered as part of the Covenant of Grace.


The Covenant of Works was made between God and man whereby eternal life was promised on the basis of Adam's obedience. Adam had the ability to keep the terms of the Covenant of Works but decided instead to disobey God with sin and death entering into the world as a result. 


Amazingly the Covenant of Grace was proclaimed in the aftermath of the fall. The Covenant of Works was in tatters and Adam and Eve's relationship with God was broken. Soon they would be put out of the garden and soon murder would enter their family dynamic. Sin and death entered the world and God's perfect creation was utterly marred as a result. 


None of us could argue if at this stage, the Lord decreed "We're finished. I'll never be fooled again. I will have nothing further to do with sinful humanity." But thanks be to God because His response to our fall was a proclamation of grace. In today's passage we meet the Covenant of Grace and stunningly it was first preached to the Devil himself. 


God told the liar and father of lies that there would be constant trouble (enmity) between the children of God and the children of the devil. In just a few short words the rest of history was mapped out. We shouldn't be surprised when the world wages war against the church. In the world today Christianity is the world's most persecuted religion. We may not yet see it in the West, but ask a Christian in Saudi Arabia how easy life is and you will see the scale of enmity between the offspring of the woman and the devil. 


This enmity would continue until a child would arrive. Jesus was the offspring promised and would would wage war against Satan and his minions. The Lord would be beaten and bruised and would ultimately lose His life, but in victory He would stand again on the earth. Christ's heel would be bruised or in other words a non-fatal blow would be struck against Him. Not so for Satan. The Lord told the enemy that his head would be crushed. 


At Calvary the offspring of the woman, Jesus Christ, would utterly destroy the enemy. Today Satan still rages for he knows his time is short but he is not and will not be victorious - he is a bound and defeated foe who will know the punishment of eternal hell.  


The Covenant of Grace was declared in Genesis 3 and in Jesus Christ it was fulfilled. All those who believe in Jesus will be set free from Satan's chains and the one who Christ sets free is free indeed. 


Pray (acTS) 


Sing 


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Q106 What do we pray for in the sixth petition? In the sixth petition, which is, And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,” we pray, that God would either keep us from being tempted to sin, or support and deliver us when we are tempted.
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23rd February 2026


Pray (ACts)


Read (John 4:1-15 focus v1-6)


Message (Alan Burke) 


Our lives have been filled with chance encounters, from the interactions in the supermarket when someone is taking up the most of the aisle and we politely wait for them to notice and they say “sorry” and then we move on with our lives to the people we meet and have a conversation with, finding some common interest and then that’s it. Of course, things have changed a little with the advent of social media, as if you get a name, the next thing you can be friends on Facebook, which creates the illusion of friendship and connection, but it often leads to superficial interactions rather than meaningful relationships. This week we focus on the first part of the interaction that Jesus has with this Samaritan woman, and it is one that leaves not the illusion of friendship and connection but that leads to her coming to know him as her saviour. 


Today we are focusing on the circumstances that lead to this encounter. It all starts because Jesus has attracted the attention of the Pharisees. They have heard about his growing popularity, and when Jesus hears about this, he goes to a place that he knew he wouldn’t be followed and went through the region of Samaria. There is something though that, although it’s not the focus of the passage that we are confronted with once more. Back at the beginning of John’s gospel, in the prologue, we are told of the wonder of the incarnation, how he who was God and was with God and how he became flesh and dwelt amongst us (Jn 1:1,14). He became flesh, the creator, who was with God and was God, whom all things were made through, became flesh (Jn 1:2).


It wasn’t an illusion, some CGI that is Computer-generated imagery, it wasn’t a hologram or a ghost, but he became flesh and here we confronted with some of the wonder of what the incarnation means. We’re told it was the sixth hour, so about noon, he stops at a well where he is tired. He goes on and asks for a drink (v7). John here wants us to see the humanity of Jesus; he wants us to know and understand that the Lord Jesus through the incarnation was not the appearance of man, not Superman, but was in reality a man. Mary was but an instrument of the Holy Spirit to bring God in the flesh. 


The incarnation conveys one of the greatest truths and mysteries the world has ever known. It enables him to be the sinless sin bearer, for only a man could have atoned for man’s sin. Jesus Christ in taking on flesh and through his sinless life as true Man could act as our substitute, dying in our place. It was necessary that he be true God for only God could bear the weight of sin and the wrath that was due to us. Remember the next time you are thirsty and tired how the infinite God took on the finite; he is our great high priest who can truly emphasise with our weakness for in the incarnation the two whole, perfect, and distinct natures, the Godhead and the manhood, were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


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Q105 What do we pray for in the fifth petition?
A. In the fifth petition, which is, And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors,” we pray, that God, for Christ’s sake, would freely pardon all our sins; which we are the rather encouraged to ask, because by his grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others.
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21st February 2026


Pray (ACts) 


Read (Jude 1v24-25) 


Message (Scott Woodburn) 


We have reached the end of Jude's short letter and it finishes in quite a surprising way. Jude has given us multiple warnings about the ministry and character of the false teachers. He has told us that we are in for a fight until the day Christ comes. He has taken us on a Bible study and reminded us of Enoch, Balaam, Korah and Cain. He has even given us a little glimpse of books outside of the canon of Holy Scripture. So how does he finish? By singing!


There's plenty in Jude to trouble us and to make us scratch our heads but nevertheless Jude finishes his letter with a song. You may have heard the final two verses of Jude used as a benediction at the end of a worship service but that is a mistake. A benediction is a word of blessing from God to His people. That's why it's the final thing you hear before you leave worship and head back out into the world. The final verses in Jude are not a benediction but instead a doxology - they are a song of praise from you to God.


It's a sure sign of the Christian's confidence that even in the face of false teachers and church difficulties it is still possible to praise the Lord. Jude wanted to write about salvation and instead was forced to write to urge his brothers and sisters to contend for the faith. It was a difficult message but Jude finishes by singing "now to Him" (v24) and why not? God is the One who will keep us from stumbling. My brothers and sisters we are called to enter the battle and we can be certain it will be bruising. Nevertheless the Lord will keep us to the end. We will not lose our salvation. The Lord will not delete us from His book. The one who has received Christ by faith will persevere to the end - God Himself is able and He will make it so!


The preservation of the believer will lead to that person being presented blameless before the Lord Himself. My brothers and sisters this is our glorious destiny. The Lord will keep us from stumbling and by His immeasurable power we will stand holy and blameless before Him on the last day. When that day comes our joy will be great. We may feel like we are struggling inch by inch through this life but a day of abundant joy is coming. Really, really, really...a day of abundant joy is coming! You will stand in the presence of the glory of Almighty God. Really.


No wonder Jude broke into song. Only the Lord will keep us. Only the Lord has the power to present us blameless. It is only the Lord who deserves all the glory, majesty, dominion and authority. It's always been this way, before all time and now and forever more. There is no one like the Lord. No one surpasses Him. There's no one close to Him. Great is the Lord and worthy of all praise!


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Q104 What do we pray for in the fourth petition? In the fourth petition, which is, Give us this day our daily bread,” we pray, that of God’s free gift we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life, and enjoy his blessing with them.

20th February 2026


Pray (ACts)


Read (John 3:22–36 focus 31-36)


Message (Alan Burke)


Consequences, we all know there are consequences for our actions. When we are wee, we begin to discover we can’t just do what we want to do; there are some things that we can get away with when we are six that we can’t get away with when we are 16 or 66. Like if a child bites and kicks another child at six in primary school, the school will deal with it, speak to the parents, help the children realise you can’t do this. When a 16-year-old bites and kicks another 16-year-old, there will be suspension, possibly expulsion, and the police involved. If you try at 66 to kick and bite someone, you might get away with it if the family think you’re doting, but if you do it to the wrong person, you could end up with a custodial sentence. We know that there are consequences; it doesn’t mean we like them. In this life, we want those whom we perceive as bad people to face the consequences for their actions; we want them to get their just deserts, but when it comes to God finally making people face the consequences for their actions, lots of people do not like the sound of it. Here, John, as he speaks to his disciples, he explains why he must decrease and Christ must increase, and he speaks of the life he gives to those who believe and what is faced by those who reject him. 


Why must John decrease and Christ must increase? It is because of who the Christ is and who John is. Jesus is the one who comes from above and above all, and John is from the earth and belongs to the earth; he speaks as one from the earth. Jesus is the one from above, he is God incarnate, who was with God and was God from the beginning, and John is from the earth. He called people to repentance and baptised them in water, but he could not bring new birth; his baptism was a forerunner to the baptism of the Holy Spirit that comes from God himself. John knows that the one who has come from above, who will bring us new birth, the one in whom we become the children of God. He is the one God has sent; he speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. It is through Jesus Christ that we can have eternal life, that we can stand forgiven, that we can be delivered from the wrath that is due to us, so that we might be part of the marriage supper of the Lamb. This is the one that John was merely preparing the way for, the one that there is none greater than among man. 


Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, for those who have repented of their sin, our saviour has lavished his love upon us; he died for our salvation, and he will come again to receive us unto himself; we will be joined with him for all eternity. This belief is not simply a belief in the historic Jesus, who lived and died; it is a belief that reorientates our entire life. Again, whosoever believes, this is not a universal salvation; Jesus came for a particular people; all who will believe in him, the scriptures do not teach universalism regarding salvation; not everyone will be saved. For he also warns all those who do not receive him, they are those who reject him, that they will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them. What we deserve is nothing but the wrath of God for our sin; we have offended a holy God; he cannot look on our sin, but for whoever believes in the Son, there is eternal life. Believed in the Son for salvation comes through him alone.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


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Q103 What do we pray for in the third petition?
A. In the third petition, which is, Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven,” we pray, that God, by his grace, would make us able and willing to know, obey, and submit to his will in all things, as the angels do in heaven.
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19th February 2026


Pray (ACts) 


Read (Jude 1v22-23) 


Message (Scott Woodburn) 


As we wait for Christ's return we also have a responsibility to others. In these last days there will be those who know doubt fuelled by the lies of the false teachers. Will Christ return? Did Jesus die for me? Will I stand on the last day? To those wrestling with such questions of doubt we are to show mercy. Others will have bought into the lies of the enemy that we are to snatch them from the fire (v23a). In other words they are in great spiritual danger and we are to do our best to pluck from the flames of hell.


Finally we may encounter those who seem far from the grace of God. They have believed the lies and live in direct opposition to the Gospel. We are to be merciful to such individuals whilst at the same time "hating even the garment stained by the flesh" (v23b). What does Jude mean? Show mercy to the sinner but hate sin. Be careful that you too are not enticed by the schemes of the enemy. Show mercy but keep your guard up!


It is clear that Jude doesn't believe the last times to be an era of peace and happiness for the Christian church. I suspect we have been lulled into a false sense of security over the past 100 years or so. Christianity seemed to be in a prominent position in the Western world and we probably believed that it would never be any different. We have been fools. 


Satan continues to rage against the church for he knows his time is short. Brothers and sisters may we wake from our slumber. These are not days of peace but days of war. Put on the full armour of God and contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints.   


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Q102 What do we pray for in the second petition? In the second petition, which is, Thy kingdom come,” we pray, that Satan’s kingdom may be destroyed; and that the kingdom of grace may be advanced, ourselves and others brought into it, and kept in it; and that the kingdom of glory may be hastened.
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18th February 2026


Pray (ACts)


Read (John 3:22–36 focus 27-30)


Message (Alan Burke)


After weeks like the ones I’ve had, I am looking forward to being yesterday’s man. I’m dreaming of it, and right now I’d accept it gladly if I could take early retirement, but I’ve got to keep going until I’m 72, probably 80 the way the country is being run these days. If you haven’t heard that idiom before, ‘yesterday’s man’, it is often used of politicians whose careers are over. The influence and power that they once had is now gone, and they have become nothing more than outdated irrelevance. They may still try to put their nose in where it doesn’t belong, give interviews, write letters, speak to anyone who will listen to them, but more and more they are just an inconvenience to everyone, and they are no longer in the position to do anything. 


There are those, though, who I’ve come across who cannot let go. They never want to retire. They can’t let go of what they have out of fear of being yesterday’s man or woman. Remember where we are? John’s disciples, out of fear, envy, and rivalry, had gone to John, giving off that Jesus was taking their glory. And today, as we look at John’s response to them, it is humbling. It is an example to us, no matter who we are, what our station is in life, whether we are just starting out or towards the end, whether we are by the world’s standards a nobody or a somebody. And John knows that everything that he had and that we have comes from God. Everything. Whether we are riding on the crest of the wave in life or our lives are falling apart. 


Look at the response of John to his disciples’ envy and rivalry; he acknowledges God’s sovereignty in all things. He says: “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven” (Jn 3:27). John is acknowledging God’s sovereignty in what he has received in his life, in God’s plans and purposes for it. It is as if his disciples were saying to John: “Here look, Jesus, he’s taking the glory that I due to you, what are you going to do about it?” If it were us, the easy thing is to be likewise filled with envy and rivalry, to be discontent in the midst of all that is happening just as John’s disciples were, but not John. John wasn’t wanting to keep the status or fame that he had. He knew that everything comes from the Lord and to be discontented in his life with what he had, in his position, in what he had, in his circumstances, whatever it was, would ultimately lead to dissatisfaction with God. 


John here uses the imagery of the wedding, of the friend of the bridegroom, to make his point; the job of the best man is to bring the focus on those whom it should be focused on. He knew the joy privilege that he had in being the forerunner to Christ. His whole intention was to give the glory to the one that he was sent ahead of. John knows that Christ must become greater and he less. This is a lesson that we need to learn, a lesson that is hard to learn for we often make it about ourselves. There are times that we might look at what is happening in our lives and we think, “How can the Lord bring anything good from this? We’re not happy, we’re maybe dissatisfied, disappointed that God has brought this upon us.” John had not made it about himself; he knew that Christ must increase while he decreased. And in this life, whatever we face, we can take comfort from the words of Joseph. Joseph, who was sold into slavery, who faced some awful things that would break most of us, and at the end, he was able to say to his brothers: “You meant it for evil, God meant it for good” (Gen 50:20).


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Q101 What do we pray for in the first petition?
A. In the first petition, which is, Hallowed be thy name,” we pray, that God would enable us, and others, to glorify him in all that whereby he maketh himself known, and that he would dispose all things to his own glory.
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