Feeding on the Heidelberg Catechism

As part of my daily time of communion with God I've been reading through the Heidelberg Catechism. Today questions 26 and 27 ministered to my soul.

Q. What do you believe when you say: I believe in God the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth?
A. That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who out of nothing created heaven and earth and all that is in them,[1] and who still upholds and governs them by His eternal counsel and providence,[2] is, for the sake of Christ His Son, my God and my Father.[3] In Him I trust so completely as to have no doubt that He will provide me with all things necessary for body and soul,[4] and will also turn to my good whatever adversity He sends me in this life of sorrow.[5] He is able to do so as almighty God,[6] and willing also as a faithful Father.[7]

[1] Gen. 1 and 2; Ex. 20:11; Job 38 and 39; Ps. 33:6; Is. 44:24; Acts 4:24; 14:15. [2] Ps. 104:27-30; Matt. 6:30; 10:29; Eph. 1:11. [3] John 1:12, 13; Rom. 8:15, 16; Gal. 4:4-7; Eph. 1:5. [4] Ps. 55:22; Matt. 6:25, 26; Luke 12:22-31. [5] Rom. 8:28. [6] Gen. 18:14; Rom. 8:31-39. [7] Matt. 6:32, 33; 7:9-11.

Q. What do you understand by the providence of God?
A. God's providence is His almighty and ever present power,[1] whereby, as with His hand, He still upholds heaven and earth and all creatures,[2] and so governs them that leaf and blade, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, food and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty,[3] indeed, all things, come not by chance[4] but by His fatherly hand.[5]

[1] Jer. 23:23, 24; Acts 17:24-28. [2] Heb. 1:3. [3] Jer. 5:24; Acts 14:15-17; John 9:3; Prov. 22:2. [4] Prov. 16:33. [5] Matt. 10:29.

I want my trust in God to be so complete that I have no doubt that he will provide me with all things necessary for body and soul. I love the statement that he is able to "turn to my good whatever adversity He send me in this life of sorrows." Today I considered my life and reflected on the fact that everything good and everything difficult I've faced has come to me "not by chance but by His fatherly hand." What a sweet truth God's providence is to the soul.

Here's the complete text of the Heidelberg Catechism.

Comments (4)

Your thoughts remind me to of the first q&a of the Heidelberg Catechism - - one of the most beautiful theological statements.

Posted by Chris Brauns | January 24, 2008 8:37 PM

hey joshua guess what! i jus passed my driving test todayyy!!!=) i am so happpppy!!!after 3 tries!

Posted by rachel | January 25, 2008 1:19 AM

Thank you for sharing this. It is just what I needed at this season of my life.

Posted by Joel | January 26, 2008 11:22 AM

Hey Josh,
Timmy Brister tagged me for a Self Disclosure meme and I have tagged you to play along too!

Posted by Jennifer Partin | January 27, 2008 9:18 PM

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