Rev. David Willis, District Mission Enabler, opened our worship last Sunday with a rousing hymn – Guide me O Thou great Jehovah, accompanied on organ by Rod Smith. After prayers of adoration Roy Martin read to us from Hebrews 11, the nature of faith.
The state of our world today is depressing yet hope pervades the entire Bible, a hope in things unseen which will come true, that withstands any attack. Although everything seems to be going wrong these days Hebrews 11 provides a roll call of inspiring people who lived according to God’s promises no matter how impossible they seemed in worldly terms. God fulfils his promises in his time, not ours. In verse 16 we are promised a better world, one worth standing up for. This may put us at odds with worldly values but we must say no, serving others not ourselves, not limited by worldly considerations. Christian hope lies in assuming that better world is on its way. By welcoming God’s promises we become signposts to a better life. God has never let us down; he is always faithful and true.
After prayers for hope for our troubled world, our community, church and individuals we sang And can it be that I should gain…Bold I approach the eternal throne and claim the crown, through Christ, my own. Then David closed the service with a blessing.