Welcome to this week's ToGather.church! Our focus comes from our Verse of the Day, Proverbs 29:25:

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.

Phil's message video explores the background of our verse both from its Old Testament roots and understanding and from how powerful this promise is for those of us who follow Jesus.

Through the songs, prayers, Communion, and Phil's message in our full worship video, we will explore what it means for God to keep us safe. May we all be blessed through today's powerful truth explored in worship!

Phil's Message for This Week

Today's message is centered on Proverbs 29:25. It's a very needed message for our time in history. Much of the recent world conversation has focused on the question, "How can we be kept safe?" People have not been concerned about just the global pandemic and COVID-19. They are also concerned about the war in Ukraine, political division, social upheaval in Africa and other parts of the world, and terrorism and terrorist states, as well as the deepening divide between the dictatorial communist nations and the free nations of the world.

Phil reminds us that we have a promise similar to Proverbs 29:25 in Romans 8:28-29:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

Still, we wonder:

How can we be kept safe in the world we live in today?

Is safety even a legitimate expectation we should have as God's people?

What does God mean when he promises that "whoever trusts in the LORD will be kept safe"?

Phil emphasizes two things in response to these questions:

  1. Proverbs 29:25 emphasizes that God's promise for safety is given to those who "trust in the Lord"! It is not a general promise to everyone but only for those who build their lives on God and trust his promises. Such people orient their hope for the future in God. Notice how the promise of Proverbs 29:25 parallels Paul's phrase, "those who love him [God], who have been called according to his purpose." God is at work in our lives if we build our lives on him and his purpose for us as we express our love for God through our obedience to his word and will.

  2. God does promise to keep us safe and to work all things out for what is good. But we must understand that God redefines what it means to be kept safe. Sometimes God's deliverance can be immediate and miraculous. Other times, God's deliverance is through trial, difficulty, and even death taking us into our eternal home with him (Philippians 1:18-26). God's promise is tied to our being conformed to Jesus, our Savior, who triumphed over hate, abuse, and hell through the cross and the resurrection. So, as Jesus said, if his adversaries treated him harshly, the world we live in today may treat us harshly (John 15:20). We live the values of God's Kingdom in a world in rebellion to God and his will! However, Paul reminded us that what we have entrusted to God, God will honor in this life and in the eternal life that lies ahead for us (2 Timothy 1:12). What we suffer here in this life is not worth comparing to the glory God has in store for us (Romans 8:18).

So considering all of this, what does it mean to be kept safe?

Phil answers that fundamental question in his video!

What does it mean for God to keep us safe?

Full ToGather Worship Video

The full worship video leads us to open our hearts to God and his promises as we pray, sing, share the Lord's Supper, and share a closing blessing. We pray the Holy Spirit fills and encourages you as we worship!

Special thanks for the use of images related to Jesus' ministry from The Lumo Project and Free Bible Images for use in both ToGather videos.