During the present pandemic and inability of the saints to gather for public worship and fellowship, elder Tom Cammenga has been writing a couple of meditations a week for Faith PRC, the congregation in which he serves. With his permission we post one of the early ones he wrote for the church's comfort and guidance in these difficult times.

Children of Light

Read Ephesians 5:1-21

The book of Ephesians was written by Paul, likely while he was imprisoned in Rome. Having visited Ephesus at least three times and having lived and worked there for about three years, Paul writes this letter under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to further instruct these beloved saints and to strengthen them in the faith.

In verses 1 and 2 the inspired Apostle directs the saints in Ephesus as well as the saints of Faith PRC, to be followers of God and to walk in love, having Christ as our example. Paul then goes on in much of the remainder of the text to, on the one hand, illustrate negatively those things that inhibit us from following God and walking in love, and the fruit of such activities, and on the other hand, positively, what actions and activities are evidence of a right relationship with God.

As you and I read through the text, are we convicted by the negative examples? Is our conscious pricked when we read verses 3 and 4 of the text?  ^“But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.” Do you and I apply these examples to ourselves or do we think of other members of the congregation? The real question is, how do you and I walk? Do we follow God as children of light, or do we follow the devil as children of darkness?

But why children of light? Why is this how God has chosen to describe his elect children? Well, have you ever wondered at the power of light? Think about it for a moment and maybe even discuss it with your children. Is there ever a time, other than the plague of darkness in Egypt and the three hours of darkness while Christ was on the cross, when light is not able to overcome darkness? A good way to illustrate this would be to place several pieces of duct tape that you have stuck together, after having poked a hole through all of them with a pin, over the lens of a flashlight. Now, in the darkness of night find the darkest corner of your home, maybe in a closet or in the basement, and shut off all the lights. Once your eyes have adjusted to the darkness, switch on the flashlight. What happens? If the end of the flashlight has been taped adequately, only a small pin prick of light will be visible. The key word is that it is visible. No amount of darkness, even though you have found the darkest place in your home, is able to overcome or extinguish that small, pin prick of light.

And so, it is with us, if we are truly following God. The results of our following God will be visible for all to see as if they were light that pierces the darkness of night. The light that we project, however, is not our light, but the light of Jesus Christ. Notice what verse 14 says; “Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”

So then comes our calling as it is set forth in the text, beginning in verse 15. Paul, knowing our nature and the nature of the saints in Ephesus because it was the same as his own, exhorts them and us “to walk circumspectly (diligently), not as fools but as wise.” And then he further instructs that we redeem the time. That the Ephesians and the saints who make up the congregation of Faith PRC use whatever time we have been given, to diligently follow after God and walk in love, for Him first of all, but then also (and if we truly love God this will certainly follow) for one another.

But how can we do that now, separated and unable to come together as a congregation? Thankfully, God has given us amazing technology that allows us not only to talk to one another, whether with email, texts, or on the phone, but also to see one another as we communicate. And don’t forget, we all have Bibles and Psalters and favorite hymns that can be sung, both individually as well as together as families. Certainly, these are good things we can use and do as we seek to follow God.

There is one thing, however, that we can do for one another that is far more beneficial; pray. Pray for the needs of the body. Pray for contentment in our current circumstances. Pray that soon we may be brought together again soon. Pray for those who are experiencing loneliness. Pray that in every aspect of all our lives, God may be glorified and exalted. Ephesians 5:19-21: “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God”.

Today, April 10, is Good Friday, the day the Christian church remembers the death and crucifixion of her Savior, Jesus Christ.

The Protestant Reformed Churches also mark this day, believing that the cross of Christ is at the heart of the gospel, God's good news for lost and condemned sinners. The death of Jesus on Calvary's hill declares the righteousness of God, as He revealed His total displeasure with sin and poured out His consuming wrath upon His Son. At the same time, that cross of Christ displays the amazing mercy and grace of God, as He gave His own Son to die in the place of and for the everlasting benefit of His people who are totally incapable of saving themselves from their lost state and wholly unworthy of being rescued by divine action.

The New Testament book of Romans summarizes this gospel wonderfully where it says,

The Protestant Reformed Churches usually commemorate Good Friday with a full, public, evening worship service. But in these times when we are not able to do that, we may still join with God's people through livestreamed services and by means of Internet resources to worship and glorify this God of boundless righteousness, mercy, and grace. In this post we wish to make you aware of these services and resources.

First, the following PR churches are presently live-streaming special worship services on Sunday, and you are welcome to join them for their Good Friday and Easter services too:

Crete PRC at 9:30 AM and 5:30 PM CDT; Faith PRC at 9:00 AM and 5:30 PM (EST); First PRC-GR at 9:30 AM and 5:00 PM (EST); First PRC-Holland at 9:30 AM and 5:00 PM; Grace PRCat 9:30 AM and 5 PM EST; Hope PRC-GR at 9:30 AM and 5:00 PM (EST); Hudsonville PRCat 9:30 AM and 5:30 PM EST; Hull PRC at 9:30 AM and 6:00 PM; Loveland PRCat 9:30 AM and 6 PM MST; Lynden PRCat 10:00 AM PST; Pittsburgh PRCat 9:30 and 5 PM EST; Southeast PRC at 9:30 AM and 5:00 PM EST; Southwest PRC at 9:30 AM and 5:30 (EST); Zion PRC at 9:30 AM and 5:30 PM (EST).

The times given here are Sunday morning and evening worship times. For the time of the Good Friday services, please visit the website of the church you wish to join in worship. For example, Georgetown PRC is broadcasting hers at 7 pm (EST) tonight.

Second, there are also many audio sermons that you can access on this website for your further use, including many Lenten and Good Friday sermons. Just use the search (filter by text, speaker, series) feature on the audio sermon page, for example under series for Lenten sermons or Good Friday messages.

Third, you are also encouraged to read the many meditations and articles relating to the suffering and death of Jesus posted on the PRC website. The link provided here is just one example. Search under the subjects for others.

Last, if you are new to the gospel and would like to know more about who Jesus is and what He has done to save sinners, you are encouraged to read or listen to this series of special gospel messages by missionary-pastor A. Spriensma.

 It is our prayer that you take time today to meditate on the gospel of Christ crucified and join us in magnifying the triune God for the great salvation worked through His Son Jesus Christ.

From the Reformed Witness Hour Committee:

This is part of a special message of hope and peace as we live in these unsettling days and weeks, when fear is real and faith grows weak. Below is an excerpt from a radio message of Rev. Carl Haak, pastor of Georgetown PRC, which he delivered on January 23, 2005 for the Reformed Witness Hour radio program.

Below the excerpt is a link to the entire message - print and audio.

You are encouraged to read and meditate on this Word of God and on these words of exposition and application.

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Trusting and Not Fearing

Psalm 56:3-4

The Scriptures say, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” There is something very touching and profoundly comforting in the simplicity of this statement. God speaks in simple, powerful words. Very plainly, this is the theme of the whole psalm. Repeatedly it comes back: Not fear, but trust! Trust in God. With a true and living faith, depend only upon Him. Cry out to Him. Bring your fears to Him.

That solves it all. Whatever that fear may be for you, whether that is surgery, or your child’s health, or your daughter’s soul, or your son’s married life, or your personal fear—here is the simple, the conquering, the never-failing answer: trust in God.

“What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word; in God have I put my trust.” There is the answer. Put your trust in God. God here is commanding us to an activity. He works faith in our hearts and He commands that which He works into action. He says, “I have given to you a heavenly grace of trust. Not something that proceeded from your will but something that proceeded from Me. Something that is now implanted in a new heart and in a new will within you. And I call you, by My grace, to be active in that trust.”