Study 1

ANOTHER NEW MINISTRY LAUNCHED

We launch another new ministry this week. We begin a new ministry via the Internet. Bethany will have its own Home Page.

What are some thoughts that come to mind as this New Ministry is launched? What fills the mind as we embark on yet another new ministry?

THE WORD OF GOD COMES TO MIND

Psalm 136 particularly comes to mind. The theme of Psalm 136 is very obvious. The central thought in this Psalm is "His mercy endures forever." This refrain appears in every single verse.

At first reading, the phrase may seem "tedious" or even "redundant." But in deeper reflection and understanding, we begin we appreciate why the Psalmist constructed his hymn of praise in this particular way.

Several thoughts suggest themselves as we take time to ponder this Psalm prayerfully.

1. In singling out the "mercy" of the Lord, the Psalmist points to man's total unworthiness.
2. In emphasising the "mercy" of the Lord, the Psalmist reminds us of how much we are indebted to God for all His blessings poured out into our life.
3. In repeating the phrase, "His mercy endures forever" the Psalmist desires to print this thought indelibly into our hearts. We must remember the mercy of the Lord at every turn.
4. In emphasising the "mercy" of the Lord, we obtain a wonderful glimpse of the compassion, grace and love of God.
5. In placing stress on the "mercy" of the Lord, the Psalmist challenges us to make a fresh appraisal of all God's blessings in our life- and to realise that we have so many wonderful blessings, only because we have a great and merciful God.

OUR CONSCIOUSNESS AS WE LAUNCH THE INTERNET MINISTRY

We are conscious that all our ministries have been sustained and blessed by the Lord. His mercy has been poured out into our life in the most wonderful of ways all these years. We launch this new ministry in full consciousness and awareness that we will need the Lord's mercies to sustain it.

We draw much encouragement from the fact that "his mercy endures forever." As it was in the days of the Psalmist, so the Mercy of the Lord prevails for today. We will consciously speak of the Lord in our Internet ministry.

We will carefully and constantly refer to the Word of God. We will seek to bear witness that God's mercy truly endures forever.

"O give thanks to the Lord" (Ps. 136:1-3) is the appropriate response as we reflect on the mercies of the Lord. We give thanks to God that we have experienced His mercy. We give thanks that He has blessed us so abundantly that we cannot but speak of His mercies. We launch this new Internet ministry with a humble prayer that the Lord's mercy will endure and will be extended to us. We pray that all will be blessed through this new ministry.

~Pastor Charlie Tan~

1st released 4 April 2000, ©Bethany Independent-Presbyterian Church