Fools treat powerful and dangerous things carelessly. Fools play with fire. Fools let their guard down around wild animals. Fools experiment with powerful substances that can kill. Fools drive at reckless speeds. In each of these, the foolishness comes from underestimating something’s power.
Proverbs 1:7 tells us what the very first step is to walk with the wise and the phrase is repeated 18 more times throughout the book.
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge”
If we want wisdom, we must have an appropriate fear of the Lord. We must estimate him correctly. We must not treat Him carelessly, thoughtlessly, or trivially. He is the eternal, almighty Creator who spoke all things into existence and upholds it all by the word of His power. He is the holy and righteous One, the Judge of all the earth. He is the one about whom the Psalms command, “Tremble before Him, all the earth!” (Ps. 9:9)
The One who knows best why all things exist, for whom all things exist, and how all things were meant to exist deserves our highest respect, honor, trust, and obedience. To do otherwise is the beginning of foolishness.
This Sunday Erik Thoennes will be preaching Proverbs 1:1-7 and Kenny Clark will be leading our sung worship. Would you pray for each as they prepare? And would you pray that God would cause the weight of his glory, the awesome greatness of his power and might and righteousness and wisdom and authority to land upon us in greater measure?
I also want to remind you that we will be observing the Lord’s Supper at the close of our morning service. This means of grace that the Lord Jesus commanded us to observe until he returns is meant to be a face-to-face experience, something done when God’s people gather physically. We would like to strongly encourage you to consider that, unless health concerns or matters of conscience require you to remain at home watching our livestream, we would urge you to join us outdoors at 9:00am to celebrate the Lord’s Supper. Communion elements will be provided for you on your way in.
Because we desire that those unable to meet with us physically not be cut off from this means of grace, we encourage those at home to prepare your communion elements and partake of them at the same time along with us while administered by a minister of Grace. We are aware that not all of our members will agree with this judgment call and have a written a short document Communion at Grace During a Pandemic to explain our rationale in a bit more detail.
If you would prefer a Grace elder to come visit you later in the day to serve the Lord’s Supper in your home, please contact the church office at (562) 943-3791 or email info@graceevfree.org by Saturday, September 12 to make your request.
See you Sunday, Grace.
Song Link of the Week
Holy, Holy, Holy by Audrey Assad