The Faithfulness of God was the theme of Rev Calum Iain Macleod’s Moderator’s Address to the General Assembly.
He drew on 1 Thessalonians 5 and Lamentations 3, along with passages throughout scripture that focussed on God’s Faithfulness.
He said: “Today, as I reflect on God’s faithfulness over decades past, I can affirm that the words of 1 Thessalonians 5:24 (from my own personal experience) are trustworthy and true. God is faithful. Can I encourage us all in this moment to press the pause button over our Christian lives and ministries, mission fields and spheres of service, draw breath, and reflect on the faithfulness of God.”
He highlighted three aspects: God’s Faithfulness in Adversity, God’s Faithfulness in Discouragement and God’s Faithfulness in Uncertainty.
God’s Faithfulness in Adversity
Calum Iain said: “For most of us, if not all of us, there are challenging times to recall over the years – in ministry and across the wider landscape of our Christian lives. Times of anxiety and anguish. Times of doubt, discouragement, distress, pain and, perhaps, even trauma. Yet, through every season of adversity, the Lord has been faithful. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is ever faithful.
‘Hakuna Mutata’ is a popular Swahili phrase made famous in the 1994 production of the Disney classic, ‘The Lion King.’ ‘It means no worries for the rest of your days’ – advocating a problem-free philosophy on life.
“But not on the Christian life. We do not subscribe to prosperity theology. A trouble-free Christian life without hardship is contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus states plainly that in this world you and I will have trouble (tribulation) – John 16:33. Paul, having been stoned, almost to death, at Lystra, for his Christian witness reminds the first century church (Acts 14:22) that ‘we must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.’
“Hardships, first century Christians in Thessalonica were no strangers to. Paul wrote this letter to encourage young believers to stand firm in ‘severe suffering’ (1:6). He assures them of God’s faithfulness. They are loved / chosen by him. He commends them for their faithfulness to Christ during an intense period of persecution. God’s faithfulness in adversity is a recurring emphasis.”
God’s Faithfulness in Discouragement
Calum Iain said: “Through the lens of Covenant Theology, we see, clearly, the covenant faithfulness of God. It is a recurring point of emphasis across the entire canvas of Scripture and finds its culmination / completion / at Calvary. This is where God’s covenant-keeping faithfulness finds its ultimate fulfilment. All of my covenant breaking failure and guilt he takes and lays it on Christ, my sinless-sin bearer, the one who is the atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go’ (Joshua 1:9).
“The vocabulary of 1 Thessalonians 5:24 (against the backcloth of Joshua 1:9) is compelling. With absolute certainty the Apostle Paul states, God, in his faithfulness, ‘will do it.’
“He will be true to his word. He will be with you and I as we serve him. Wherever we are, wherever we go, no matter how perplexing, our Heavenly Father assures us of his abiding presence.”
The eternal God, of covenant faithfulness, is our refuge and underneath are His everlasting arms (Deuteronomy 33:27).
Calum Iain added: “Serving the Lord can have its low points. Lower still are His everlasting arms. When we plunge into the depths of despondency – deeper still are his everlasting arms. When we are down, further down are the everlasting arms of sustaining grace. When we are lacking assurance and can no longer stand – this robust declaration of assurance stands firm.”
God’s Faithfulness in Uncertainty
Calum Iain said: “In the face of life’s uncertainties, Lamentations 3:22-23 provides us with complete certainty. It is compelling. ‘Because of the LORD’s great compassion we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.’
“Faithfulness implies solidity, stability, security and safety. Integrated into this Hebrew word is the dynamic of integrity – the kind of integrity associated with a sure and lasting (permanent) foundation. Structural integrity.
He said: “When life’s earth-shattering events hit us in the Christian life we need not fear – because God’s Word tells us that God’s solid foundation stands firm (2 Tim 2:19). Our Christian lives are established and built upon the solid and enduring foundation of God’s faithfulness. In his covenant faithfulness he has promised never to leave us or forsake us. We may be swayed from side to side, but we are still standing firm.”
Conclusion:
Calum Iain concluded his address by saying:
- Stand with me over this next year as we boldly testify to the faithfulness of God.
- Stand with me over the coming year as we reach out to a lost world with the steadfast and unfailing love of God in Christ.
- Stand with me as we honour the legacy of our retiring moderator and continue to proclaim with clarity and conviction the uniqueness of Jesus Christ.
- Stand with me as we declare with the uncompromising boldness of Acts 4:12 that ‘salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.’
- Stand with me as we speak up in support of religious liberty and freedom of speech.
- For speak out the good news of the gospel we shall and must. ‘As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard’ (Acts 4:20).
- And finally, stand with me as we hold firmly to the faith we profess and exalt the name of Jesus Christ from the Borders to Bettyhill and everywhere in-between driven by the vision of a ‘Healthy Gospel Church for Every Community in Scotland.’
Click here view the full Moderator’s Address