Okay, well, morning, everyone.
With your Bibles in your hands, come with me to Genesis chapter 30.
And here's C.S. Lewis on the screen.
I've been reading poems, romances, vision, literature, legends, and myths my whole life.
If I know what they are like, I know none of them are like the Bible.
So be reminded as you pick up the Bible this morning that this is no ordinary book.
Come at this enthusiastically this morning.
Come at this expectantly this morning.
That as we open this book, the voice of the living God is heard.
So often we can just go through the motions, can't we, when we come to hearing from God as we open his word.
But come at that expectantly this morning.
I know none of them are like the Bible.
So Genesis 30 verse 25 is where we are today.
I want to tell you about a lady who I met on holiday called Mary.
So we're on holiday to Bath in the south of England.
Mary was part of the church family there.
She ran the kids church.
She looked after her kids.
And we bumped into Mary on the Monday after the Sunday that we met her.
And so she asked me what life was like in Edinburgh.
And so I told her.
And after telling her, I responded and asked her the same question.
I said, what is life like in Bath?
And here's what she said.
She said, there's a joke that we tell ourselves in Bath.
That Bath is a place where, and this is her line,
it's the place where ambition goes to die.
Right?
And I made a joke about how that should be the new city motto.
I don't think she got it in my accent, but we moved on.
But before we go hating on Mary,
believe it or not, she was being hugely complimentary about the place where she lives.
Right?
If people are interested in climbing career ladders and making a name for themselves,
trying to make it in a city,
they go two hours east and they go to the big smoke.
They go to London.
Right?
But if you want a nice life,
if you want good schools,
if you want stunning scenery,
if you want wonderful Georgian architecture,
safe neighbourhood,
recycling bins go out on the right day,
et cetera, et cetera,
then you go to Bath.
And the subtext of what Mary was saying
is that this is a city where people come
and they settle.
And I heard her say it,
and it reminded me of the greatest fear that I have for my Christian life,
and I wonder if it's yours as well.
Not physically speaking, but spiritually speaking,
is that I just settle down in this world.
And life's cushy,
and it's nice,
and it's comfortable.
And I let the things of this world,
the comforts, the pleasures,
take me,
and the currents of that sea
cause me to drift away from my love for Jesus Christ.
Right?
I stop pursuing
and learning more of the big heart of Jesus.
Let me tell you,
it's the most easy thing in the world to stand up here
and deliver something when your heart's not in it.
I never want to get to that stage
where this is not a burning passion of mine
to know Jesus more,
to see more of his character and his love
stamped all across my life,
enjoying him
and living in light of who he is.
And what this is today
is God's loving and gracious invitation to us
to be a people
who are living for the heavenly city.
As the reformers used to say,
what was said of them,
that they were forward tilted people.
Right?
Life was lived on the tiptoes
expecting that this is not the final destination.
Do you know,
it's the easiest thing as well
in my generation,
people my generation
talk about their forever homes.
Right?
Buying your forever home.
And you can be in that home for 10 years,
you can be in it for 50 years,
but let me tell you,
this is not your forever home.
And why this matters,
and whoever you are here today,
I want you to listen to this challenge
that comes at this today.
Why you should listen
is that we are all meaning-seeking creatures.
We are all meaning-seeking creatures.
We are all looking for a bigger reason
for which we exist.
Something to live for,
something to make your life worth it.
And it is all wrapped up
in our culture's newfound craving
for an identity.
Yeah?
Something to make your life make sense.
You know,
it was astrologer Carl Sagan,
who, as I understand it,
wasn't a believer,
commented on a picture
that NASA took of the Earth
from their Voyager spacecraft,
right?
Some 4 billion miles away
from Earth.
See if you can find it on the screen.
Right?
The picture that's become famous
as the pale blue dot.
And its conclusion,
after seeing this picture
and reflecting on the smallness
of planet Earth
and the seeming insignificance
of our little lives
on planet Earth.
He said this,
he said,
if we crave some cosmic purpose,
then let us find ourselves
a worthy goal.
In other words,
we're so small,
who knows what's going on?
You better make your life
worth something
and find something
to live for.
Makes sense, doesn't it?
If that's your outlook on life.
You've got to find your meaning.
You've got to find a purpose.
And I'm reminded that
every time I turn on the news
and I see things like
the just oil activists, right?
And that's not a comment at all
on the validity of the cause.
It's just a little snippet example
of how people in our world
are desperate for something
to believe in
and give their life meaning and worth.
But what God is saying today
to the Christian believer
is not that you need to go out
and find yourself a worthy goal.
The gospel is the opposite.
The gospel says,
God by his grace,
that I've given you a worthy goal
and I've saved you to live
for a worthy goal.
To quote Seth Lewis
in his book,
Dream Small.
And he's a believer
and he says this,
once you grasp that God
has given you the goal,
you don't need to find
your own meaning in life.
He said this,
I'm not interested
in naming my dreams
at empty promises,
no matter how big they look.
I want to spend my strength
and my short time
on this planet
on things that really matter,
no matter how small they look.
And so into our world,
dear friends,
that encourages you,
what's always the second question
we ask people
after,
where are you from?
What do you do?
Right?
And so often I know
that many of you
answer that question
and you feel like
you don't have a good answer
for that,
what do you do?
Maybe particularly
if I'm going to pick one,
maybe particularly
if you're a mum
who stays at home,
you're a parent
that stays at home
and you answer that question
and you think,
actually,
am I living for something?
Absolutely it is
because it's caught up
in what God has given you
as an identity.
All of us is an identity.
We're living for something bigger
than just what we do
with our lives
and Hebrews 11
gives us the interpretive lens
through which we can understand
the massive change
that goes on
in Jacob's heart today
as God says,
come and live
for the better city.
This is what the writer
to the Hebrews says,
by faith he,
and that's Abraham,
he made his home
in the promised land
like a stranger
in a foreign country.
He lived in tents
as did Isaac
and Jacob
who were heirs with him
of the same promise
for he was looking forward
to the city
with foundations
whose architect
and builder
is God.
As it was with Abraham,
so it is with Isaac.
As it is today
as we read about Jacob,
God is calling him
to live for the bigger
and better city.
And so as we take in
a turning point
in Jacob's life today,
I want us to see
and look out for these
in the reading
that there are two
big barriers
that God is calling
Jacob by faith
to overcome
as he responds
to God's word
this morning.
What we're going to see
is that Jesus
has defeated
those barriers
for us
and he's calling us
to live in light
of who he is
and to live
for that better city
as we delightfully
and diligently
pursue him.
So this is Genesis 30
in at verse 25.
And guys,
maybe we could get
the words on the screen
and follow with me
in your Bible,
please,
if you have one there.
Genesis 30
in at verse 25.
Watch for the turning point.
Think about the two barriers.
Think about the better city.
After Rachel gave birth
to Joseph,
Jacob said to Laban,
send me on my way
so I can go back
to my own homeland.
Remember,
Jacob is living
away from his homeland
almost as it were
under house arrest
it feels
by this guy Laban, right?
Give me my wives
and children
from whom I've served you
and I will be on my way.
You know how much work
I've done for you.
But Laban said to him,
if I have found favor
in your eyes,
please stay.
I have learned
by divination
that the Lord
has blessed me
because of you.
He added,
name your wages
and I will pay them.
Jacob said to him,
you know how I've worked
for you
and how your livestock
has fared under my care.
The little you had
before I came
has increased greatly
and the Lord
has blessed you
wherever I have been.
But now,
when may I do something
for my own household,
what shall I give you,
he asked?
Don't give me anything,
Jacob replied.
But if you will do
this one thing for me,
I will go on
tending your flocks
and watching over them.
Let me go
through all your flocks
today,
let me go through
all your flocks today
and remove from them
every speckled
or spotted sheep,
every dark colored lamb
and every spotted
or speckled goat.
They will be my wages.
And my honesty
will testify for me
in the future.
Whenever you check
on the wages
you have paid me,
any goat in my possession
that is not speckled
or spotted
or any lamb
that is not dark colored
will be considered stolen.
Agreed,
said Laban.
Let it be
as you have said.
That same day
he removed
all the male goats
that were streaked
or spotted
and all the speckled
or spotted female goats,
all that had white on them
and all the dark colored lambs
and he placed them
in the care of his sons.
Then he put a three day journey
between himself and Jacob
while Jacob continued
to tend the rest
of Laban's flocks.
Jacob, however,
took fresh cut branches
from poplar,
almond and plain trees
and made white stripes
on them
by peeling the bark
and exposing
the white inner wood
of the branches.
Then
he placed
the peeled branches
in all the watering
troughs
so that
they would be
directly in front
of the flocks
when they came
to drink.
This will all make sense
when we go through it,
okay?
When the flocks
were in heat
and came to drink
they mated in front
of the branches
and they bore young
and they were streaked
or speckled
or spotted.
Jacob set apart
the young of the flock
by themselves
but made the rest
face the streaked
and dark coloured
animals that belonged
to Laban.
Thus he made
separate flocks
for himself
and did not put them
with Laban's animals.
Whenever the stronger
females were in heat
Jacob would place
the branches
in the troughs
in front of the animals
so that they would mate
near the branches
but if the animals
were weak
he would not place
them there.
So the weak animals
went to Laban
and the strong ones
to Jacob.
In this way
the man grew
exceedingly prosperous
and came to his own
large flocks
and female
and male servants
and camels
and donkeys.
Jacob heard that
Laban's sons were saying
Jacob has taken
everything our father
owned
and has gained
all his wealth
from what belonged
to our father.
And Jacob noticed
that Laban's attitude
towards him
was not what it
had been.
Then the Lord
said to Jacob
go back to the land
of your fathers
and to your relatives
and I will be with you.
So Jacob sent word
to Rachel and Leah
to come out
to the fields
where his flocks were.
He said to them
I see that your father's
attitude towards me
is not what it was before
but the God of my father
has been with me.
You know that I've worked
for your father
with all my strength
yet your father
has cheated me
by changing my wages
ten times.
However God
has not allowed him
to harm me.
If he said
the speckled ones
will be your wages
then all the flocks
gave birth to speckled young
and if he said
the streaked ones
will be your wages
then all the flocks
bore streaked young.
So God has taken away
your father's livestock
and has given them to me.
In breeding season
I once had a dream
in which I looked up
and saw that the male goats
mating with the flock
were streaked
speckled or spotted.
The angel of God
said to me in a dream
Jacob
I answered
here I am
and he said
look up and see
that all the male goats
mating with the flock
are streaked
speckled or spotted
for I have seen
all that Laban
has been doing to you.
I am the God
of Bethel
where you
anointed a pillar
and where you
made a vow
to me.
Now leave this land
at once
and go back
to your native land.
Then Rachel and Leah
replied
do we still have
any share
in our fathers
in the inheritance
of our fathers estate?
Does he not regard us
as foreigners?
Not only has he sold us
but he's used up
what was paid for us.
Surely all the wealth
that God took away
from our father
belongs to us
and our children
so
do whatever
God has told you.
Amen.
And this is God's word
to us this morning.
And just remember
that big thing.
God's called
to Jacob
to live
for the bigger city
where he is
and live in faith.
Jacob's away from home
he's living under Laban
and God says
return.
And so here's
the first of the two barriers
that God's inviting him
to overcome in faith.
Right?
And see if you see
these things in your life.
Because I saw them
in my life
at the minute
as I've been walking
through this.
Here's number one.
There's too many mistakes
in my past.
I mean it's just been
blow after blow
and mistake
after mistake
in Jacob's life
thus far
hasn't it?
Things that have
happened to him
but things that he has
done to other people.
and the fallout
that's come
off the back of that.
Right?
Total them up.
He's been hurt
by his dad.
He's been led astray
by his mum.
He's cheated his brother.
He's been tricked
by his father-in-law.
He's got two wives
who are at each other's
throats.
He's sitting there
with kids
from four different women
and to top it up
he's living miles
away from home.
And that is what
we would call today
that is what we would
call baggage.
And maybe that's you
today.
Dear friends
we cannot undo
the past
but we can take
God at his word
and we can come
to him
and to receive
his mercy
and grace
and we can
change
and begin
to live
for the future.
Our God
is the God
of endless
compassion
and grace.
So you're not amazed
with how patient
he is with his people?
How patient
he is
as I look back
and as I think
about the mistakes
that I've made
in my life
as I think
about the ways
when I was young
and I used to
think about
and speak to people
oh God
he's so patient
with us.
And that's exactly
what God says
at verse 13
of chapter 31.
He calls himself
what?
He says
I am the God
of Bethel.
Now that's a reference
a really significant
reference
and feel
the forgiveness
and invitation
that's here
is the reference
to something
that's happened
in Jacob's life
back at
verse 10
of chapter 28.
Jacob's had a dream
if you remember
that scene
of the stairway
between heaven
and earth
and God says
because
of who I am
I'm going to
give you this land
and you're going
to be a blessing
to the nations
and even though
you go
I'm going to
bring you
back to this land
and that's the promise
that God has made
Jacob
but the thing
to see
is that chapter
30
might be a
two chapter
jump for us
but it's a
20 year
jump
chronologically
in the life
of Jacob.
You do the maths
right?
That's a lot
of mistakes
that's a lot
of regrets
in 20 years
think about
your life
in 20 years.
There's a lot
going on
between Bethel
then
and God
saying return
now
it's been
20 years
and Jacob's
got to be
asking himself
is he not?
See the mess
that I've made
of it
in 20 years
time
the mess
I've made
of it
here and now
does that
nullify
the promises
that God
made to me
back then?
You know
we had an
English teacher
at school
substitute
teacher
from America
from New York
I think we
nicknamed him
Yankee
and there was
one rule
in his classroom
and he took it
straight from
the baseball
umpire
and his rule
was three strikes
and you're out
so if he called
you out three times
if he called you
out in late homework
if he called you
out talking in class
then that was
one strike
and you got
three
and you used
to get
what was the
dreaded
lunchtime
detention
and all that
meant was just
you spent
your lunchtime
walking around
picking up litter
and you got
to ask yourself
is God
like that?
Is it three
strikes and
you're out
with the Lord?
When God
says return
and says
I'm the God
of Bethel
it is him
graciously
reminding Jacob
that this is
not primarily
about you
that we preach
a gospel
that is bigger
than just
behavior modification
the entry
to the gospel
is not
behavior
qualification
it is simply
the blood
of Jesus
Christ
and faith
in him
what God
is teaching
Jacob
here
is
this is
not
primarily
about
you
it is
about me
and my
unchanging
character
and my
heart
for the
peoples
and the
nations
of the
world
this is
about
my
perfect
timing
this is
about
my
unstoppable
and good
promises
and this
is about
me
doing
the thing
from your
line in the
future
that's
ultimately
going to
be the
blood
bought
price
to free
you
from the
grip
and the
debt
of your
mistakes
and your
painful
past
this is
not just
a get
out of jail
free card
that God
has given
Laban here
it doesn't
matter
no God
sees
and God
will deal
because God
loves
is he
thinking in
his heart
in this
moment
there's
too many
mistakes
in my
past
you
thinking
that
this
morning
do you
know what
the second
one is
that there's
too many
unknowns
about the
future
because Jacob
to get up
and go
home here
is not
easy
this is not
going to be a
hero's welcome
back in his
homeland
right
think about
what he's just
walked away
from
he's got
to go
back
God has
called him
to go
back
to Isaac
who he
conned
he's got
to go
back to
Esau
who he
tricked
so to
follow the
Lord there
and to
face up
to his
old sins
who knows
what way
that's going
to go
but the
promise that
God makes
to him
at 31
3
is the
thing that
he's got
to hold
and he's got
to walk
by faith
with
and it's a
really simple
promise here
it is that
God is
with him
right
God holds
the future
it's God's
plans and
purposes
it's God
who is the
sovereign one
and if
Jacob is
looking for
proof of
that that
God is
with him
he'll need
look no
further than
all the ways
that God
has blessed
him
despite
Laban's
best efforts
to make
life as
hard as
possible for
him
and that's
what's going
on here with
the flock of
animals in case
you're wondering
in case you're
wondering
you're definitely
wondering what
on earth is
that all
about
okay what's
going on
Jacob
Laban is
effectively
giving Jacob
he said you
can have the
best
Jacob has
effectively
been given
the worst
by Laban
right
Laban has
handpicked the
best for
himself
done a runner
and said you
can have the
rest
best
and yes
Jacob has
used his
wisdom and
experience in
cattle breeding
techniques to
give it his
best shot
that's what all
that stuff is
about about the
peeling of the
branches and
whatnot he's
giving it his
best shot
because that
stuff is kind
of folklore in
this day about
how you make
cattle breed
right you get
them to look at
sticks and if
they look at
spotted sticks
they'll think
about spotted
it's that kind
of thing
right
but I think
the reason that
we're given
all of it
the writer's
intention is to
say do you
seriously think
that that was
the thing that
was making
Jacob prosperous
here a few
sticks a few
peels
what's going on
here as that
summary sentence
at verse 43
right at the end
of chapter 30
gives us as he
increases greatly
what it's showing
us is that God
is making this
all happen
he's making this
all happen
so much so
that Laban says
verse 27 of
chapter 30
I see
that the Lord
has blessed me
because of you
right he gets
that something's
up here
he's aware that
something's going
on what's going
on there is that
God is making
good on his
covenant promises
that through
Jacob God will
bless the nations
of the world
it's a little
snippet of a
glimpse of it
there and so
when God says
to Jacob
return home
and says
I am with
you
these are not
words that
come without
any backing
right in the
words of
Corrie ten Boom
who was
imprisoned in a
German concentration
camp during
World War II
and who knew
more reasons
than I think
any of us
will ever know
to worry
she said this
she said never
be scared to
commit an
unknown future
to a known
God
too many
mistakes in
my past
too many
unknowns about
the future
and God
says Jacob
I'm going to
deal with
both of
them
and we read
of Jacob
from verse
four he's
relaying that
to Rachel
and Leah
and it's
amazing isn't
it this must
be God
because it's
the first time
those two have
agreed in this
whole incident
the writer's
telling us
that Jacob
is beginning
to walk
once again
in light
of who
Yahweh
is
and he's
beginning to
think about
the promises
that he has
made him
that are
trustworthy
and if you
think about
the original
readers of
this who are
that Israelite
generation
wandering in
the wilderness
they read
this what a
rallying call
to do the
same
because this
is if you
think about
it there's
echoes
of the
exodus
all over
this
right
if you think
about what's
going on in
Jacob's life
here he's
kind of
in slavery
to this man
Laban isn't
he and God
says I am
with you
God calls
him to go
does that
remind you of
anything that's
going on for
these readers
it must have
done
it must have
done
that's how
God works
could it even
be that the
generation who
are wandering
in the wilderness
could it even
be that they're
at the 20
year mark
in that 40
year journey
could it even
be that many
of them like
Jacob here
are doubting
God's goodness
questioning his
promises
looking at the
failure and
mistakes in their
own life
and what they're
doing is they're
just drifting
and they're
settling
and Moses is
saying just like
Jacob and just
like Isaac and
Abraham before him
you've got to
start thinking
about who this
God is and
taking out his
word and getting
back into the
slipstream of his
promises in the
future that he's
won for you
come home
return
and from Jacob's
line dear friends
will come another
son who left
home
not because of
his mistakes and
his sin but
out of loving
choice the
father's choice
to send the
son is loving
choice to save
us from our
mistakes and
sin and his
choice to come to
bring us home
and that son
will tell a story
about another son
who was away from
home one of the
most famous
stories that
Jesus told
ever told
about another
son who left
home about
another son who
was estranged
from his father
about another
son who didn't
know about what
kind of welcome
he would receive
as he returned
home he didn't
want his father
in that story of
the prodigal son
he didn't want
his father he
wanted his father
dead I want
your stuff I
don't want you
and so the son
goes and he
lives the life
of Riley he
goes girls he
goes parties he
goes clothes but
eventually because
of the folly he
finds himself in
the pigsty and
when he comes to
his senses and
remembers his
father he thinks
I've got to get
to him but as he
starts making that
journey home what
I'm sure came to
mind too many
mistakes in my
past and
unknown too many
unknowns about my
future what kind of
gods am I going to
encounter here
and the walking
son is met by the
running father
fattened calf ring
on his finger best
robe welcome home
because this God is
a God of compassion
and forgiveness and
grace but what is so
often missed as we
tell that story it's
where the shame has
gone you see the
shame that the son
deserved because of
running away from his
father and saying I
don't want you father
the shame that should
have been the sons
the father takes on
himself no father in
the Middle East would
run it's not what you
do don't humiliate
yourself like that no
no no but this father
was willing to
humiliate himself and
take the spotlight of
shame that his son
deserves on himself
why so that his son can
come home and that is
what Jesus does as he
goes to the cross to
take that from being a
nice story to being a
stunning reality why does
Jesus go to the cross
what is it that's made
him leave home in search
of rebels like us
why does he propitiate
turn away God's anger
against my sinful
creaturely rebellion
against this holy God
why does Jesus take it on
himself why does Jesus
take the humiliation and
shame that I deserve
why does he take the
nails that I deserve
why will he shed his
blood because it should
have been my blood that
was shed answer
he does it so that by
his grace I may be
forgiven
and that I might be
adopted into the family
of God
and that I might
love him
as he transforms my
heart I didn't see these
things before
but he's on my eyes
so that I can see the
all surpassing beauty
of Jesus
and I would live
because I know him
and I know the future
and I know the thing
that he's called me to
and I know about the
new creation that he
will return and bring
in one day where all
wrongs will be right
he calls me to live
for that future
and ultimately he calls
me to live for that
better city where he
is
you see friends that is
the gospel that I drift
from all the time
Jesus has done
everything
so that I may live
for a better city
mistakes in my past
guys he's dealt
with them
unknown future
he holds me
and he says
I'm with you
to the very end
and once we grasp
that
how could we settle
for the stuff
down here
you know I love
the funeral tomorrow
looking at the order
service
the song we're going
to finish with tomorrow
is because he lives
and it goes like this
because he lives I can
face tomorrow
because he lives all
fear is gone for I
know that he holds
the future
and life is worth the
living just because he
lives
the answer to settling
is not try harder
just in case your mind's
gone there already
it's not be better
it's not be a busier
and a better Christian
it's not serve in more
ways
it's not fill your
calendar
because that can drift
so easily into
legalism and moralism
the solution
is a heart
that's been gripped
and transformed
by
and is swimming
in the ocean
of the loving
grace of Jesus
and the new
identity that he
has given us
that he calls us
by his grace
to live for that
better city
you know just
as we close
I just want to tell
you about my
friend Kate
there was a
whatsapp group
over the last
couple of weeks
for her birthday
and she invited
all of us
who kind of
were in the same
group of friends
when we were young
hanging out together
and so I kind of
reconnected with all
those guys recently
and I remember Kate
when Kate was growing
up
and I remember
her becoming
a Christian
and so she went
by the name Kate
with a K
and all of a sudden
when she became
a Christian
she starts wanting
to be known
as Kate
with a C
and I was
during the 90s
and it was
only a few years
after that thing
when Prince
turned his name
into a symbol
I just thought
it was a fad
I remember
asking her why
and she said
the meaning
of the name
Catherine
with a C
which is my
real name
the meaning
of that name
is purity
and so
having given
my life
to Jesus
having been
saved by him
I just want
to draw a line
in the sand
between my
old life
which was
Kate
with a K
and my new
life that Jesus
has called me
to which is
Kate
with a C
because my
previous life
was dominated
by my mistakes
and my folly
and it should
have been me
with shame
but Jesus
has saved me
made me holy
and I'm going
to live as a
daughter of the
king
now the
application of
that is not
let's all
parade down
to register's
office and
change our
names
the application
is because of
the gospel
in Christ
the old
has gone
and the new
has come
and that's
who you are
today in
Jesus Christ
to celebrate
the gospel
I love this
song we're
going to
we sang it
earlier
and we
finish with
this
these are
the lyrics
and this
is what
it's all
about
isn't it
I was
blinded
by my
sin
I had
no ears
to hear
your voice
did not
know
your love
within
had no
taste
for heaven's
joys
then your
spirit
gave me
life
opened up
your word
to me
through
the gospel
of your
son
gave me
endless hope
in peace
and so
maybe that's
you today
mistakes in
the past
too many
unknowns about
the future
God says
because of
who he is
in Christ
he says
return
so what we're
going to do
now we're just
going to have a
moment of silence
and let's just
pour out hearts
before the Lord
wherever you're at
this morning
whatever God's
spirit however he
has taken it and
apply this to your
life let's
pause and be
quiet reverently
before the
Lord
and so
Father we
thank you
for the
truth of
Romans 8
chapter 1
that there
is now
no
condemnation
for those
who are
in
Christ
Jesus
and so
Father I
pray for us
this morning
Lord
many of us
will be aware
of the
mistakes in
the past
and I
pray
heavenly
father that
you would
bring that
knowledge by
your spirit
who is dwelling
in us he
would bring
that knowledge
of the
forgiveness
that's found
in Jesus
and the
newness of
life that's
found in
Jesus
and the
all surpassing
beauty of
life that's
found in
Jesus
and Father
as many of
us here as
well we
think about
the unknown
future we
think about
our church
family Lord
just now and
everything that
many of us are
going through
would your
spirit also
bring that
deep conviction
of what
Jesus has
won for us
on the
cross
about how
he holds
the future
about how
he is
sovereign over
everything that
happens today
Lord be at
work in our
hearts we
pray
oh Lord
help us
never to
settle
help us
always to
be those
people who
have an
eye on
the future
and so Lord
we thank you
for your
goodness help
us to live for
your glory this
week we pray
in Jesus'
name
Amen