Note: Devotion is taken from last Sunday's afternoon sermon on Lord's Day 10 Heidelberg Catechism:
And not only so, but we glory in
tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience,
experience, and experience, hope (Romans 5:3-4).
It is interesting that there are
various apologetic ministries that are dedicated to upholding the doctrine of
God as Creator. One thinks of ministries like Answers in Genesis.
I couldn’t think of any ministry
offhand, however, that is specifically dedicated to the doctrine of God’s
Providence. Maybe we need to found one that could be called “Answers in
Providence.”
On Lord’s Day 10 in the
Heidelberg Catechism, Q. 28 asks, What advantage is it to us to know that
God has created, and by His providence doth still uphold all things?
The answer given to the question
illustrates why this catechism has been called a “book of comfort”:
Answer: That we may be patient
in adversity; thankful in prosperity; and that in all things, which may
hereafter befall us, we place our firm trust in our faithful God and Father,
that nothing shall separate us from His love; since all creatures are so in His
hand, that without His will they cannot so much as move.
This is very practical counsel. What
is to be the Christian’s disposition or attitude in times of adversity (in the
midst of frowning providences)? Patience.
And what is to be the Christian’s
disposition or attitude in times of prosperity (in the midst of smiling
providences)? Thankfulness. Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “In everything
give thanks.”
Maybe rather than asking, “How
are you doing?”, Christians need to start asking one another, “Are you in a
season of patience or in a season of thankfulness?”
One of the prooftexts provided
for this teaching in the catechism is Romans 5:3-5. In Romans 5:3a, Paul says, “we
glory in tribulations also.” He then proceeds in Romans 5:3b-4 to describe what
we might call a “golden chain” of sanctification: tribulation produces patience;
patience produces experience; and experience produces hope. Paul concludes, “And
hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts
by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”
May the Lord teach us in all the
providential circumstances of life to respond with patience and thankfulness.
Grace and peace, Pastor Jeff
Riddle
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