We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people (Colossians 1:3-4, NIV)
We’re starting a new series this Sunday, working our way through St Paul’s letter to the Colossians. It’s a letter that begins with thankfulness for the Colossian Christians, and prayer that they would continue to live in Christ. It’s also a letter to us, that we would continue to live in Christ and give thanks to God.
Jesus said ‘go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’ (Matthew 28:19-20, NIV)
What is our purpose as a church? Why do we do what we do? What are our plan for the future? This Sunday is our Vision Sunday, and we’re going to spend time looking at our purpose as a church, our vision for 2025, and our plans for the future - I really hope that you can join us as we do that.
Lord, do not forsake me; do not be far from me, my God. Come quickly to help me, my Lord and my Saviour. (Psalm 38:21-22, NIV))
Where do we look when things go wrong? When school is horrid, work is hard, or life just seems unfair - where do we turn for help? What about when we are the ones who have messed up? Where to we go for help then? The answer from the psalm is to appeal to God for help.
The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him. (Psalm 37:39-40, NIV))
Following God can be hard, or at least we can wonder why we do it. We see around us people doing wrong and profiting from it. Nothing seems to happen to them, while we struggle to do what is right and receive no reward. That is the complaint of Psalm 37. In the same psalm, however, we are shown something of the true picture - that one day all wrongs will be righted, and all justice will be carried out.
We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you. (Psalm 33:20-22, NIV))
Psalm 33 is a song of praise to God. Throughout the psalm many reasons are given as to why we can praise God. Ultimately, it comes down to God's faithfulness and trustworthiness in the day-to-day and in the future.