This week is more of a Worship Prep than a Sermon Prep. Do you know why we need this time to worship together every week? We all need to remind one another of the four truths packed into 1 John 3:2-3.

Beloved, we are God’s children now…

REST. If you are in Christ, you are loved by God with His perfect Fatherly love. You are 100% a child of God right now, not 25% up front and then He’ll see how it goes. Your place in His family is secure. We easily forget or doubt this amazing promise.

…and what we will be has not yet appeared…

ADMIT. We still don’t resemble our Father nearly as much as we ought or desire, but this doesn’t mean that we live under his angry frown. It only enflames His Fatherly love toward us all the more to keep leading us out of death and into life.

…but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is….

IMAGINE. A Day is coming when we will we resurrected to glorified bodies, hearts undivided and wholly devoted to our Heavenly Father and Christ our Savior, restored to perfect holiness and purity, fully conformed to His image.

…and everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

ANTICIPATE. As we help one another keep our eyes fixed firmly on this sure and coming hope, that conforming to His image will be happening now from one degree of glory to another.

Our passage in Luke this Sunday will end with the voice of the voice of our Master saying, “Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.” This news is not just for us, but for others we know who haven’t yet heard or come to believe this. Is there someone you might prayerfully invite to join you at Grace this Sunday?

Rob Lister will be preaching Luke 14:15-24 and Kenny Clark will be leading our sung worship. Would you take some time this week to read and reflect on this section of Luke and to pray for each as they prepare?

See you Sunday, Grace. Let’s come hungry!

 

Song Link of the Week

O My Soul, Arise by Sovereign Grace Music

My God is reconciled
His pardoning voice I hear
He owns me as His child
I can no longer fear
With confidence I now draw nigh
With confidence I now draw nigh
And, “Father! Abba Father!” cry