Exodus 32:11 But Moses implored the LORD his God and said, "O LORD, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 …Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people…14 And the LORD relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people.
One of the intriguing mysteries of Scripture is the marriage of the providence of the Sovereign Lord and the effectual prayers of a righteous man. How are these two truths united? Or are they? Can a righteous man’s prayers change the mind or the plans of the Sovereign Lord? In the narrative of the golden calf did not God tell Moses that He would destroy the people due to their stiff-necks? Moses, then made a plea to God on behalf of the people, His promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and His testimony before the Egyptians. Scripture then teaches, “and then the Lord relented.” Did Moses’ prayer change God or did it change Moses? Again, within this passage we find two powerful truths which appear to clash: God’s sovereignty verses the power of prayer. From my limited point of view I am unable to justify the two, but God’s glorious Word teaches both and in both can I find the greatest of peace and pleasure.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
God Meant It for Good
And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Gen 50:19-20
Joseph was a man who could have allowed his life to be poisoned with unforgiveness, bitterness, and unbelief. His life had been rocked by the betrayal by his own brothers who sold him into slavery; wrongly accused by a wicked woman and was thrown into prison; and forgotten by one whom he had helped. Joseph could have easily shaken his fist at God for allowing him to experience such “unfair” pain, but instead he chose to believe. He could have easily resented those who treated him unjustly seeking vengeance, but he chose to forgive. Joseph could have lived his life wallowing in the mire of self-pity and misery, but he chose to rejoice. He could have chosen to look for the negative, but he chose to look to God. Joseph never allowed the pain of the moment to cloud his view of eternity. His eyes and faith were steadfastly set on the God of creation and redemption. Joseph simply surrendered himself to the providential plans of the Sovereign Lord and rested in His unending mercy. Because of Joseph’s steadfast surrender God placed him in position to be a great blessing to others and he in return lavished in God’s blessing. Truly he could say, “What others meant for evil, God meant it for good.”
Joseph was a man who could have allowed his life to be poisoned with unforgiveness, bitterness, and unbelief. His life had been rocked by the betrayal by his own brothers who sold him into slavery; wrongly accused by a wicked woman and was thrown into prison; and forgotten by one whom he had helped. Joseph could have easily shaken his fist at God for allowing him to experience such “unfair” pain, but instead he chose to believe. He could have easily resented those who treated him unjustly seeking vengeance, but he chose to forgive. Joseph could have lived his life wallowing in the mire of self-pity and misery, but he chose to rejoice. He could have chosen to look for the negative, but he chose to look to God. Joseph never allowed the pain of the moment to cloud his view of eternity. His eyes and faith were steadfastly set on the God of creation and redemption. Joseph simply surrendered himself to the providential plans of the Sovereign Lord and rested in His unending mercy. Because of Joseph’s steadfast surrender God placed him in position to be a great blessing to others and he in return lavished in God’s blessing. Truly he could say, “What others meant for evil, God meant it for good.”
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
And They Laughed
Matthew 9:24 he said, "Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him.
How many times have we, like those called in to mourn over Jairus’ daughter, laughed at Jesus? Sarah laughed also at the news from the LORD that she would give birth in her old age. We may not be overt in our laughter and our laughter may not be with intent to scorn as the mourners, but yet we laugh within our hearts even as Sarah. This laughter reveals unbelief and a resistance to the things our Lord is desiring to do for us and through us. If we laugh, let us laugh “with” Jesus in joy and amazement instead of “at” Jesus in disbelief and scorn.
How many times have we, like those called in to mourn over Jairus’ daughter, laughed at Jesus? Sarah laughed also at the news from the LORD that she would give birth in her old age. We may not be overt in our laughter and our laughter may not be with intent to scorn as the mourners, but yet we laugh within our hearts even as Sarah. This laughter reveals unbelief and a resistance to the things our Lord is desiring to do for us and through us. If we laugh, let us laugh “with” Jesus in joy and amazement instead of “at” Jesus in disbelief and scorn.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
A Vow of the Heart
Jacob’s Vow 01/12/2009
Gen 28:20-22 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, 21 so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God, 22 and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you."
Jacob had an experience with God through a dream which prompted him to make a vow unto the Lord. The question which must be asked is “What is the motive of the vow?” Was this a statement of true commitment to God or was it a conditional bargain driven by selfishness? Obviously, the language leaves room for interpretation as commentators debate the true intent of this vow. This leads to another thought. Language within itself can always leave room for uncertainty. Words that are written or spoken with the clearest of communication can never prove true motive. Was it not our Lord who said, “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me,…” Isa 29:13. Therefore, any vow or statement must be proven by the actions that follow. Proceeding the vow, Jacob was a man who lived up to his name as a supplanter/deceiver to acquire the desires of his heart. At the very time of the vow he was on the run escaping his brother’s vengeance for stealing his blessing. Jacob was the same man after the vow, a man always scheming to get an edge rather than placing dependence upon the God of his vow. It was not until he was on the run again that he wrestled with God and cried out in desperation that his motives appear pure. Only then did he receive a new name, Israel. No longer was he bargaining with God but instead, grabbing hold and not letting go. This is a vow of the heart. This is a vow which our Lord smiles upon.
Gen 28:20-22 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, 21 so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God, 22 and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you."
Jacob had an experience with God through a dream which prompted him to make a vow unto the Lord. The question which must be asked is “What is the motive of the vow?” Was this a statement of true commitment to God or was it a conditional bargain driven by selfishness? Obviously, the language leaves room for interpretation as commentators debate the true intent of this vow. This leads to another thought. Language within itself can always leave room for uncertainty. Words that are written or spoken with the clearest of communication can never prove true motive. Was it not our Lord who said, “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me,…” Isa 29:13. Therefore, any vow or statement must be proven by the actions that follow. Proceeding the vow, Jacob was a man who lived up to his name as a supplanter/deceiver to acquire the desires of his heart. At the very time of the vow he was on the run escaping his brother’s vengeance for stealing his blessing. Jacob was the same man after the vow, a man always scheming to get an edge rather than placing dependence upon the God of his vow. It was not until he was on the run again that he wrestled with God and cried out in desperation that his motives appear pure. Only then did he receive a new name, Israel. No longer was he bargaining with God but instead, grabbing hold and not letting go. This is a vow of the heart. This is a vow which our Lord smiles upon.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Blessing the Lord at All Times
Psalm 34:1 I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth
David was a refugee in an enemy territory running from a mad king who was trying to murder him. He could have easily cried out in complaint questioning why God had allowed these things to occur in his life. But instead, during one the most difficult times of his life David made this incredible declaration:
I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. Ps. 34:1
Through David we can learn these basic principles of gratitude.
• Gratitude is a matter of the heart and not the circumstances surrounding you.
• Gratitude is a matter of choice which reveals the condition of the heart within in you.
• Gratitude is a matter of perspective which reveals how you see the circumstances around you.
• Gratitude is a matter of the mind which reveals how you understand the God who created you.
David simply chose not to allow tough times to rob him of the joy of praising God, but instead turned his trials into praise which then turned his potential fear into hope and sadness into joy. Friends, each of us can do the very same regardless of the circumstance. The spirit of gratitude will change your life and will make every day a good day and every circumstance a matter of thanksgiving. I am reminded of a these thoughts on the subject of thanksgiving by Pastor Troy Mason…
I am Thankful for......... ....the taxes I pay ....because it means I’m employed. ....the clothes that fit a little too snug ....because it means I have enough to eat. ....my shadow who watches me work ....because it means I am out in the sunshine. ....a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and ....gutters that need fixing ....because it means I have a home. ....the spot I find at the far end of the parking lot ....because it means I am capable of walking. ....my huge heating bill ....because it means I am warm. ....all the complaining I hear about our government ....because it means we have freedom of speech. ....the lady behind me in church who sings off key. ....because it means that I can hear. ....the piles of laundry and ironing ....because it means my loved ones are nearby. ....the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours ....because it means that I’m alive. ....weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day ....because it means I have been productive. The art of thanksliving. It is gratitude in action. It is thanking God for the gift of life by living it triumphantly. It is thanking God for your talents and abilities by accepting them as obligations to be invested for the common good. It is thanking God for all that men and women have done for you by doing things for others. It is thanking God for happiness by striving to make others happy. It is thanking God for beauty by helping to make the world more beautiful. It is thanking God for inspiration by trying to be an inspiration to others.”
Let us each learn to live daily with the spirit of thanksgiving and an attitude of gratitude. This will allow us to give God the glory He is due and will allow us to experience the simple joy of finding God’s hand in everything. He is an incredible God in the good and the bad. Let us bless Him at all times.
David was a refugee in an enemy territory running from a mad king who was trying to murder him. He could have easily cried out in complaint questioning why God had allowed these things to occur in his life. But instead, during one the most difficult times of his life David made this incredible declaration:
I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. Ps. 34:1
Through David we can learn these basic principles of gratitude.
• Gratitude is a matter of the heart and not the circumstances surrounding you.
• Gratitude is a matter of choice which reveals the condition of the heart within in you.
• Gratitude is a matter of perspective which reveals how you see the circumstances around you.
• Gratitude is a matter of the mind which reveals how you understand the God who created you.
David simply chose not to allow tough times to rob him of the joy of praising God, but instead turned his trials into praise which then turned his potential fear into hope and sadness into joy. Friends, each of us can do the very same regardless of the circumstance. The spirit of gratitude will change your life and will make every day a good day and every circumstance a matter of thanksgiving. I am reminded of a these thoughts on the subject of thanksgiving by Pastor Troy Mason…
I am Thankful for......... ....the taxes I pay ....because it means I’m employed. ....the clothes that fit a little too snug ....because it means I have enough to eat. ....my shadow who watches me work ....because it means I am out in the sunshine. ....a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and ....gutters that need fixing ....because it means I have a home. ....the spot I find at the far end of the parking lot ....because it means I am capable of walking. ....my huge heating bill ....because it means I am warm. ....all the complaining I hear about our government ....because it means we have freedom of speech. ....the lady behind me in church who sings off key. ....because it means that I can hear. ....the piles of laundry and ironing ....because it means my loved ones are nearby. ....the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours ....because it means that I’m alive. ....weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day ....because it means I have been productive. The art of thanksliving. It is gratitude in action. It is thanking God for the gift of life by living it triumphantly. It is thanking God for your talents and abilities by accepting them as obligations to be invested for the common good. It is thanking God for all that men and women have done for you by doing things for others. It is thanking God for happiness by striving to make others happy. It is thanking God for beauty by helping to make the world more beautiful. It is thanking God for inspiration by trying to be an inspiration to others.”
Let us each learn to live daily with the spirit of thanksgiving and an attitude of gratitude. This will allow us to give God the glory He is due and will allow us to experience the simple joy of finding God’s hand in everything. He is an incredible God in the good and the bad. Let us bless Him at all times.
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