Unchanging Grace

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The ‘Christmas shopping season’ is well and truly upon us, and the modern method of shopping is cover all your bases. In a recent survey 89% of consumers reported that they would shop both in-store, and online this Christmas. This is a continuation of last years record high percentage of consumers favouring both the physical store as well as the online options.

Ordering online has become far more mainstream, but there is often the slight concern around delivery. We sit back and ask ourselves questions like: will my products be delivered on time? Will they be delivered to the right house? Will they be the right size? How will the delivery instructions be followed? The game of waiting for something to arrive is an experience we are becoming far more familiar with.

One of the worst feelings in the ‘waiting for delivery’ experience is when the due date passes, the expected passage hasn’t arrived, and the delivery promise has been broken. There may be a late adjustment from the delivery company, or the seller, making some vague excuse, and coming up with another date.

In our passage this weekend, we look at Isaiah 60 and there we see an expectation that is based on a promise. But this is no vague delivery promise that might be readjusted at any time, this is the promise of God, wholly dependable, and God always delivers on his promises.

​In the midst of a season that is often busy for tangential reasons, let us find the time to remind ourselves of the good promises of God, to find encouragement in them, and to rest in his unchanging grace.

In Christ’s Love,

Craig Olliffe, Senior minister