Dear Church Family,
Advertising has found that the word “FREE” continues to attract interest most quickly whether in print, TV, radio or internet. Not you might think I am going to write about God’s grace as it is free – we do not deserve it nor can anyone earn or buy it. As much as I love to talk and preach about grace that will not be today’s topic.
Instead, let’s return to a wonderful doctrine – God’s providence. I wrote about this on March 20. What I wrote remains eternally true. Feel free to page down and re-read it. This Sunday in worship this will be our Statement of Faith from the Shorter Catechism: “Q11. What are God’s works of providence? A. God’s works of providence are His most holy, wise and powerful preserving and governing all His creatures, and all their actions.”
Just as God’s grace remains free (though it came at the cost of the death and suffering of Jesus), so now God’s people enjoy at no further cost resting without fear in the providence of God. This truth has directs ties to the sovereignty of God. Facing life today without fear boils down to one of two choices: either God controls all things and is at work in all things or some impersonal mechanical force that leads with nothing but hopeless fate. For God’s people we can rest assured that fate holds no power over us. We rest in God’s providence.
What does this have to do with the word “free”? Ligonier Ministries has made the teachings of R. C. Sproul available at no cost during this time of crisis. I suggest you listen to his teachings on the doctrine of providence. The first link takes you to one lesson on providence, lasts 24 minutes and will also allow you to hear Sproul’s lectures on 59 other topics. The second link features six sessions that are all on providence. You can also download study guides to assist your learning.
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/foundations/providence/
After a good dose of Dr. Sproul you will have a deeper appreciation of this glorious doctrine. We can all rejoice as Q29 of the Heidelberg Catechism answers with confidence, “Providence is the almighty and ever present power of God by which he upholds, as with His hand, heaven and earth and all creatures, and so rules them that leaf and blade, rain and drought, faithful and lean years, ford and drink, health and sickness, prosperity and poverty – all things, in fact, come to us not by chance but from His fatherly hand.”
Resting in God’s providence with you,
Pastor Gillikin