A New Thing
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!”
Isaiah 43:18-19
We have been given theses verses from Isaiah a few times over recent months. It is good to test it to see what God is saying to us. Isaiah was writing to the people of God in exile in Babylon. It was a national disaster for them. God had rescued them from slavery in Egypt and here they were again in slavery to another empire. History was repeating itself.
What God has done before he will do again, but not necessarily in the same way. God did rescue the exiles and brought them back to Jerusalem, but in a different way to the Exodus. It is helpful to remember history and beneficial to study what God did in the past. But Isaiah was looking forward to a new thing, the coming of Christ, then in the future, which would eclipse all that had gone before.
Hope is coming!
It has been a wearying time for many over the last year. The trustees are grateful for all your support and hard work during the vacancy. As we enter this new season in the life of CNC, we are really excited about what God will do through our new leader Sarah. She brings hope with her, although we should not burden her with our hopes and aspirations. We still place our hope in Jesus. We must beware of cynicism and nostalgia, not setting up monuments to how God has worked in the past. Instead we should press in to see where the Spirit is moving now as we ask God to increase our desire for mission. If we are open and willing, then God will do a new thing through CNC. Hope is coming!
Bitesize Bible Network
We are starting a new short course by N. T. Wright on Wednesday 11th March about The Lord’s Prayer. It is in eight sections, but we will probably do two or three sections an evening depending on the discussion time. Email Rob and Becky at bitesize@cnc.church to register your interest.