A twinge of “I don’t matter” took a bite out of me, but I decided that God is my friend and had reasons for allowing me to be ignored. He did whisper in my ear, “I am your best friend.”
Today’s readings give more insight into the sovereign dominion of the Lord. One example that points to the mystery of His will: why does one person who seems not very wise and does only a little work have great success, while another with a greater measure of wisdom and who works diligently winds up with their projects melting into nothing? A wise man wrote this as an answer:
Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all. (Ecclesiastes 9:11)God does not give me power over the events of my life. I can plan, but “I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.” (Jeremiah 10:23)
Some things just happen and seem very odd, yet God’s dominion means that He determines my calling and the events of my life, even the odd ones. The hairs of my head are under His sovereign care. Everything else is of greater concern, yet I can trust Him with all things.
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, was called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, (Romans 1:1). God made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, (Acts 17:26) Onesimus, running from his master, is guided by God’s sovereign order into Paul’s company, and thereby into Christ’s arms. This man who went to prison as a fugitive, comes out as a Christian (Philemon 10, 15). Our length of life is also in God’s hands (Psalm 31:15); either cut short or to continue long.
How does this work? Look to the story of Lazarus. Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth.’ Making a command to a dead man seems odd, yet this man who had died came forth. Could it be that the command carries the power to create new life?
Piper says that obedience to the command means doing what living people do. He says this is extremely important. The command of God, ‘Rise from the dead!’ carries in it the power we need to obey that command. We do not obey it by creating life; but by doing what living people do — so Lazarus came forth. He rose. He walked out to Jesus. The call of God creates life. We respond in the power of what the call created.
To illustrate, if my house was on fire and someone yelled, “Wake up! Save yourself! Get out!” I don’t obey by waking myself up. The loud, powerful command itself wakes me up. I obey by doing what an awake person does in the face of danger — I get up and leave. The call creates the waking. I respond in the power of what the call created.
Yesterday God spoke to me about being in awe of Him and trusting Him. How would I respond if others neglected me? Would I be upset with them? Or would I see this as God's will and not throw a pity-party? His words to me created the response He called for.
PRAY: Dear Father, the verses from yesterday call me to both humility and joy. You are in charge and You want me to be like Jesus… who is far more neglected, ignored, and mistreated than I will ever be. The odd things that happen to me are nothing compared to the grace You shower upon me.
Not only that, You say: “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12–13) affirming that I can obey You only because You sovereignly work in my heart to make that obedience possible. May I listen well and respond to Your voice according to Your will.
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