After finishing this semester in my intro to pastoral and theological studies, I am amazed at how far the church has come in terms of maturing in her faith.  I am also aware of how far we still need to go.  We have to grow in our understanding and application of the word of God.  The five points, five solas, the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, biblical theology, systematic theology, practical theology, etc…  All theology is practical, meaning that unless we apply it, we don’t truly grasp the full meaning of what we learned.

I’m learning that having a great understanding of the things of God means loving my neighbor as myself, means trusting God when it hurts, means reflecting the glory of God to a dark and sinful world.  Reformed theology is historical Christian tradition.  It is the pure religion that was taught by Jesus, it is the apostolic teaching, it is the teaching of the saints throughout the ages.  It’s not that it has changed, it has matured over the ages… it has been refined and focused by the person of Jesus Christ into a sharp laser that points towards that time when we will worship before the throne of God… with Him seated on the throne and high and lifted up… and us laid low by his glory.

Oh, what a tradition we have.  Oh, what a great God we serve. 

My prayer is that God will continually remind us of his greatness.  Remind us that it is His glory that we see… In times of suffering like that of Myanmar and Chengdu China, it is God who is our refuge and our comfort and our provider and our savior.  Lord that we may remember you.  In times of prosperity, like what we experience here in the U.S. may we not forget our Lord.  May we not forget you.  Help us.  Help us to worship you.  help us to know you and delight in you.  Lord help us!