This special meditation has been prepared by PRC home missionary, Rev. Aud Spriensma.

Meditation on Jer. 17:5-8         

In Whom Do You Trust?

“Thus saith the LORD; cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh the flesh his arm, and whose heart departed from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.”

What a sharp contrast is presented in these verses! It is a contrast between a person who trusts in man and his abilities and the person who trusts in Jehovah. It is the contrast between a brown lifeless shrub in the desert and a green fruitful tree planted by waters. It is a contrast between a person who is cursed by God and the person who is blessed by God.

Although the question is not stated, it is implied: “In whom do you trust?” This question demands a response. Jeremiah writes to the Old Testament church, Judah. In the threat posed by the kingdoms of Assyria and Babylon, there were those who trusted in themselves or in the help of  the nation of Egypt. These were terrible times. Do you look to the arm of flesh, or do you look and trust in God’s mighty arm? We may ask in these current troublesome days the same questions. Do you trust in the economy, politicians, scientists, hospitals, health care, or government policies and handouts? Or do you rest and have confidence in Jehovah who is sovereign and does all things well? The question arises out of the text.

How foolish and weak is the arm of flesh. The economy changes. Governors and presidents can threaten or make promises. Scientists can maybe find a vaccine that works but also can create viruses that kill. Money can be given out by the government, but it is not free. It will have to come from somewhere, namely new taxes. The arm of flesh is sinful and mortal. The person who trusts in man is the one “whose heart departed from the LORD.” Do you see, there is no possibility of trusting in both man and God? It is either/or. It is a matter of taking our eyes off from the LORD and putting them instead on our own abilities. One is able to have a correct knowledge of God in one’s head, but not in his heart.  

In whom do you trust? God’s word says, “Cursed be the man that trusteth in man.” How dreadful! The person that lives and dies in unbelief is cursed, under God’s wrath and hatred. God’s curse is a powerful and effective word that brings death. The figure is given of a brown scrub in the desert. This shrub never gives any fruit, and even if rain comes, it has no roots to drink it up. What a picture of the person who does not know and love God!

The contrast is the child of God who trusts, has saving faith, depends upon the LORD. That person has hope, which means confidence. Why do we have this confidence even in difficult times? The reason is that the LORD is the God of our salvation. He loves us. He will work all things for good to them that love him, who are the called according to his purpose. He has provided for our salvation in his Son, Jesus Christ! Our eyes, our mind, and our heart are stayed upon him. Jeremiah’s confession is found in vs. 17, “thou art my hope in the day of evil.” May we say with the Psalmist, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me” (Ps. 56:3,4).

The person that trusts in Jehovah is compared to a green and fruitful tree. He is planted by the waters. He is planted there by God himself. He is given deep roots, roots that keep on spreading by the river. Christ Jesus is that water of life. Christ’s life flows to us by the Holy Spirit. When times of trouble come, the person who trusts in God does not shrivel up or become unfruitful. Rather, his roots sink further and deeper into Jesus Christ and his Word. He becomes stronger. He is not anxious in these troublesome times but has the fruit of joy and peace. God’s Word says that God blesses those who trust in him!

So once more the question comes, “In whom do you trust?” The Psalmist Asaph once doubted and was anxious and despairing. But God led and taught him, and he was able to say, “Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee… it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works” (Ps. 73:25,28).

May the trials and difficulties we currently face cause us to draw closer to our God in Christ Jesus in faith and confidence. 

Hudsonville PRC invites you to a live-streamed parenting conference on April 29 and 30 (Wednesday and Thursday nights) beginning at 7:30 p.m. 

Rev. and Mrs. J. Mahtani, Rev. and Mrs. G. Eriks, and Prof. and Mrs. B. Gritters will be speaking on the three stages of parenting - the childhood years, the teenage years, and the adult years. 

Attending the conference is as simple as going to the Hudsonville PRC website (http://www.hudsonvilleprc.org)  Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 7:30pm.  There will be a time for questions and answers Thursday evening. 

More information is available on Hudsonville PRC’s website (For example, outlines of the presentations). 

Conference Schedule:

Wednesday:
7:30 - Introduction
7:40 - The Childhood Years by Pastor and Keri Mahtani
8:20 - Break (put kids to bed, get a snack, etc
8:35 - The Teenage Years by Pastor and Jen Eriks

Thursday:
7:30 - Introduction
7:40 - The Adult Years (Let Them Leave But Don’t Let Them Go) Prof. and Lori Gritters
8:20 - Break
8:35 - Question and Answer with all the speakers

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.”