have you not known?

“We must make a great difference between God’s Word and the word of man. A man’s word is a little sound, that flies into the air, and soon vanishes; but the Word of God is greater than heaven and earth, yea, greater that death and hell, for it forms part of the power of God, and endures everlastingly.”

—Martin Luther


June 7, 2024

The scarcity principle is an incredibly effective marketing tactic. When a person has a fear of missing out on something there’s a psychological drive to acquire that thing. Our human nature generally assumes that when something is scarce that makes it more valuable. We get afraid that we’re going to miss out, and so we take action. That action comes from a sense of urgency that if we don’t take do something quick, we miss out on the benefit of the scarce thing. FOMO is a powerful urge.   

In many ways this was also how pagan nations approached their deities — there was never a guarantee that a god would act in favor of the people, so routine sacrifices to specific gods to curry a specific favor was common. Be that the god of the harvest, fertility, rain, etc, a specific god was sacrificed to in order to get a specific benefit that otherwise be missed. In many ways the fear of missing out on blessing and benefit was exacerbated by a sin nature that repressed the truth of the true and living God, and drove sinners into pagan idolatry that wanted divine benefits without divine reality. 

But those who know Yahweh and are in covenant with him need not have any of that framework. We serve the God who was, who is, and who is to come. Our God is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in his being, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. The prophet Isaiah writes of him this way: 

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:28-31)
Our eternal God is not skimpy nor is he scarce. His being is eternal; his covenantal blessing is as infinite as he is towards his people. There is no missing out with our God, and those who look to him in faith will always find, truth, beauty, and holy goodness. With him there is forgiveness of iniquity, and those who disregard his holy goodness will be judged with equity and perfection. 

Therefore we can know that his people, those who belong to him by faith, will be blessed, strengthened, and ultimately glorified. They will not miss out on the goodness of God because we have been reconciled to him by a Redeemer, Jesus. But those who continually reject him will be justly condemned, and the righteous ones in Christ will be vindicated. 

Do not grow weary friends! Have you not known? His grace is sufficient for you — see you Sunday!
In Christ,
John D

Announcements

—Summer Study of Ecclesiastes 
We will embark on a summer study through the book of Ecclesiastes beginning Sunday, June 23 at 5pm. This study will run for 10 consecutive weeks through the summer and the location is TBD.  

—Songs for Sunday
Here’s what we’re singing this Sunday if you’d like to familiarize yourself with tunes + lyrics!

On Jordan’s Stormy Banks I Stand
Jesus Cast A Look On Me
Psalm 51
Great Are You Lord
O Love That Will Not Let Me Go

These are some links that I have read recently that I enjoyed, found helpful, made me think, or otherwise did good for my soul/heart/mind. 

God Did Not Make A Mistake When He Made You

10 Things You Should Know about Church Membership

General Assembly Preview: Polity, Procedure & Personnel (this is a little bit of insider baseball, and I don’t agree with everything this brother says or how he says it, but it’s not a bad preview of our General Assembly for those who care about such things.)

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