Presbyterian Heritage Sunday – Planter, Pastor, Preacher

Faithful to the Word

Our great need is not a new word for a new age. God has spoken; the Word we have received is God-breathed. The Word we must preach is sufficient. And the Word to which we must remain faithful is the Word of grace that makes sinners wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Therefore, Church, receive the Word. Preacher, preach the Word. And until Christ appears and his kingdom is revealed in glory, let us remain faithful to the Word. Amen.

Our Heritage

David cries out, “Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer” (Ps. 61:1), a prayer that includes at least six petitions. But before he petitions the Lord, he describes his predicament, “from the end of the earth,” where his “heart is faint” (61:2). It is possible, that he is describing a literal distance from Zion, but more than likely he is experiencing a seeming distance from God’s presence. He feels far from God, perhaps even vulnerable, weak, and weary. And maybe you do too. Have you ever cried out to God, feeling as if he isn’t listening? Have you ever petitioned the Lord in prayer so many times that you don’t think you can pray it again? Has your heart felt so heavy that you felt like you were on the other end of the earth from the Lord? You’re not alone.

Remember the Days of Old

nd so, we remember the days of old to see God’s work in the lives of sinners like you and me. We remember the days of old to remember that God has always been at work in and through the leaders of his church. We remember the days of old to be encouraged by the saints who have gone before us, who by God’s grace have lived lives imitating Christ to the glory of God. We remember the days of old that we too may glorify God in our lives today.

A Heritage of Faith

And so, we look back to all the saints before and after the cross, saved sinners every one of them, encouraged to see the consistent faithfulness of God’s saving and sustaining grace, to our heritage of faith. But we do not let our eyes rest too long upon the recipients of God’s saving favor but to their Savior and ours, who having secured redemption for God’s elect is now seated in the place of heavenly honor “at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2): “to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen” (Jude 25).