Faced with a stern warning against apostasy in the sermon text from Hebrews 6, the elements in this morning’s service
were chosen to highlight our own natural tendency to “fall away” (Hebrews 6:6) and God’s promise to grant us
perseverance. In our opening hymn, we confess that we are “prone to wander” even from the love of our gracious God
(Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing). Passages from the Psalms remind us that the Lord has not let our foot slip (Psalm
66) and that He promises to keep our pathway straight (Fret Not Yourself—Psalm 37). We’ll ask Him to equip us to
run the race set before us (May The Mind Of Christ My Savior) and to keep us from falling to pride (The Wicked Man
Fears Not The Lord—Psalm 36), and we’ll encourage one another to “keep His ways unswerving” (If Thou But Suffer
God To Guide Thee) and to press on toward the goal (I Will Lift My Voice—Psalm 101). The benediction from Jude
sends us out with hope, describing our Lord as “Him who is able to keep you from stumbling”—a glorious promise
and one we all surely need. —Henry C. Haffner
