Update from Ian

Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary
7418 Penn Ave
Pittsburgh
PA 15208
12th December 2019

Dear Brothers, Sisters, and Friends,

It is hard to believe that in a couple of weeks I will have reached the half-way point of my seminary studies. Thus far the Lord has helped me, praise be to His name! At the end of November, we had our final exams for the autumn quarter and have now started the winter quarter. My new classes cover a wide variety of subject areas and are each challenging in different ways. I am taking Doctrine of Salvation, History of the Reformation, Greek Exegesis, Hebrew, Marriage and Family Counseling, Preaching Old Testament Quotations in the New Testament, and a discipleship practicum. Thank you for your prayers —I may well be kept busy, but it is a great comfort to know that, at the same time, I am being kept before the throne
of grace.

Last Lord’s Day, I visited Gary Gunn’s congregation, Meadville RPCNA, which is north of Pittsburgh. It was good to see Gary and Jill, as well as their little boy, Joseph. It was also nice to meet members of the congregation there. Funnily enough, it was the first time I have had no one comment on my accent — I guess they are used to it with their Minister! This week a new Elder will be ordained in the congregation, pray with me that the Lord will bless him, Gary, and the flock there in Meadville. I have not yet visited Craig Scott’s congregation as Grand Rapids is significantly further away but I do hope to do so at some point, if the opportunity arises.

A highlight of the autumn quarter was my parents’ visit towards the end of
October. One of the challenges of living abroad for a time is that you are in a sense living in two spheres — you have your home church but then also the church you are attending, your loved ones at home but then also new friends where you are. My parents’ visit certainly helped bridge that gap. It was nice to have the opportunity to see them and to give them a tour of the seminary, as well as the city of Pittsburgh. It was also a blessing that they were able to spend some more time with Shelby, after her short visit to Scotland towards the end of the summer. All in all, it was a wonderful time, praise be to God.

With regards to seminary life, I am particularly enjoying the study of Hebrew. I know it is going to take some time to get a full grasp of the language but the little I have gathered so far is already helping open up the Old Testament Scriptures. Aside from my classes, I have been reading William Symington’s Messiah the Prince. I have been impressed by the deep sense of comfort that comes with the knowledge that the Lord Jesus is reigning as the King of Kings. “Christ’s Crown” is part of our banner as RPs, but I have to admit it is not something that is part of my thoughts or meditations as often as it should be. He is reigning over all the nations, every knee will bow before Him and, in the meantime, He has promised to build His church (Matthew 16:18). In all that we face, what a comfort it is to know that the Lord who indwells His people rules over His people, continually interceding for us while enthroned at the right hand of the Father. See what Symington had to say about what Christ had to endure during His earthly ministry for this to be so:

With temporal aggrandizement and the showy trappings of royalty, he would have nothing to do. The only occasion on which he enjoyed anything approaching to a triumphal procession, was when he entered into Jerusalem, and then he rode upon an ass. The only robe of office in which he was ever arrayed, was a cast-off military cloak, thrown around him by his enemies in derision of his regal claims. The only sceptre he ever handled was a reed. The only diadem he ever wore, was a crown of thorns. For a throne he had assigned him a cross. And the homage offered him by the men of the world consisted only in the pointing at him with the finger of scorn, spitting on him, and striking him with the palms of their hands.

The world may not recognise Him as such, but the Lord Jesus Christ is King. He is King over the nations, and He is King over our specific situations.

Brothers and sisters, as I leave you, be assured that I pray for you often. While I miss you and long to be in your fellowship, I take great comfort in the fact that although I am not with you the Lord most certainly is. At the turn of another year, in all that is before you, may you each know the sweet comfort of His Spirit, and the mighty strength of His hand. All I ask is that you would please pray that same prayer for me and my fellow students. The help and saving strength of the King of Kings, what more can we ask for?

Every blessing,
Ian Gillies