Thankful. . . .

A quote this week has had a remarkable effect, not just on me but on those who hear it. The quote: “Every thing that is wrong in the world would be settled if everyone was thankful.” I shared this with friends whose stunned reaction was silence, some with mouths open at the implication of what thankfulness does to all our vices. Another said, “Yes, instead of greedy.”

For me, I’m thankful for salvation and all that God has done in my life. I realize that if the bad stuff didn’t happen I would never know how He could use it for good. I’m thankful for my mother’s mantra: “We must need it or we would not be getting it” — her expression of trusting God for even the trials of life. I’m thankful for the Word of God and that He reveals Himself. This covers much, as the Bible says:

The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. (Acts 17:24–25)

Sometimes I’m impatient with those who moan because they do not have what they ask God for, as if they know what is best and the best timing for it. As Piper writes, God’s timing is “well-timed” and we can depend on Him for all things.

This includes the weather, the government, and even the wisdom and understanding I need while living in this very messy world. His truth keeps my heart stable when I think how. . . .  
He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; (Daniel 2:21)

This faith in Him is the product of my doing? Not at all. I can moan too. It is His grace and goodness, a wonder that is amazing yet so humbling. I do not deserve even the least of His blessings, yet He keeps blessing and gives the invitation to come close to Him in confidence to receive more — including His perfect timing.

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

This does not negated problems, trials, emergencies, difficulties, and sorrows. Heaven will, but here these happen. How else would I know that God can use even the worst of experiences for good? His sinless Son was murdered. He could have stopped it. Instead He used it for the best thing that ever happened. How can I know that His power is like that? For that incredible event, but also for the evil things since then, and for the unpleasant and unwanted things that happen to me? He is not helpless nor standing idle. He is God.

PRAY: Oh Lord, so often Your people forget or doubt Your amazing power and wisdom. You can take bad and use it for good. This includes everything. I cannot see what Your plans are, nor know how You do it, but because of what You reveal about Yourself, I can trust You. In doing so, my heart is filled with the joy of being contented and thankful. Such grace, such wonderful grace.

God and this messy world . . .

 

 

READ Isaiah 45–48

A few friends and relatives like to discuss politics, mostly in frustration with current political leaders that seem totally out of control. While it seems obvious to me that all we can do about it is pray, and vote and perhaps write letters, I also wonder why God allows certain people to be in power. The Bible does say, “He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.” (Daniel 2:21) It seems unlike God to allow evil rulers.

However, Isaiah gives an example of the Lord’s power concerning what He can do with such people. This passage refers to Cyrus, the king of Persia to whom the Lord says:

“I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name. For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know me. I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the Lord, who does all these things . . . . I have stirred him up in righteousness, and I will make all his ways level; he shall build my city and set my exiles free, not for price or reward,” says the Lord of hosts. (Isaiah 45:3–7; 13)

These verses speak of God’s sovereignty. He forms light and darkness, but also well-being and calamity which is a surprise to most of us. In our minds, God should only do things that make us comfortable, but the Bible reveals that we really don’t know much about Him. In this case, He was going to use Cyrus to free His people from bondage in Babylon.

This prophet also wrote: “Truly, you are a God who hides himself, O God of Israel, the Savior. All of them are put to shame and confounded; the makers of idols go in confusion together. But Israel is saved by the Lord with everlasting salvation; you shall not be put to shame or confounded to all eternity.” (Isaiah 45:15–17)

This reminds me of Deuteronomy 29:29 which says, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” He lets His people in on some of what He is doing, but not all of it — for instance, our current government’s spending that has put our country into deep debt is a mystery to most of us.

Yet God says this to these leaders and to His people, “Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.” (Isaiah 46:8–10) Whatever He is doing, He will do it.

For His people, He says two things: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea; your offspring would have been like the sand, and your descendants like its grains; their name would never be cut off or destroyed from before me.” (Isaiah 48:17–19) In other words, obey and experience peace and the blessings of being obedient.

The second thing is in verse 22: “There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.” If I do not obey the Lord, I can expect to be upset and not at rest with all the calamities that fill this world. But if I do what He tells me, I will experience peace, even in the calamities, for He is able to put that in my heart —  perhaps even revealing to me some of the reasons for His plans. If not, no matter. I can trust Him to deal with this crazy world according to His wisdom and in line with His powerful promises!

 

God’s Supreme Authority

 

AUTHORITY means rightful power. Even though those in authority can do as they wish and command obedience from others, the concept of rightful power in the Bible is given to God alone. He is the ultimate ruler over all His creation.

O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the LORD. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. (Jeremiah 18:6)

He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings . . . . (Daniel 2:21)

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. (Romans 13:1)

In Genesis, God put creation under human dominion with this expressed in many ways. Yet even with human authorities to rule us, the Lord has ultimate authority over our lives. All of Scripture declares our need and responsibility to put our lives into His care, under His sovereignty, and submissive to His judgment.

The OT word concerning God’s authority is literally “hand” . . .

Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. (1 Chronicles 29:12)

This authority is related to God’s absolute power. Isaiah 59:1 says, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear” and this power is demonstrated over and over. His hand not only created the world but sustains it. His hand works truth and justice, guides His people, works on our behalf, satisfies or withholds the desire of all living things, and fulfills His sovereign will.

Human authority is God’s prerogative. Jesus said to those who arrested Him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above  . . . .” (John 19:11) acknowledging the legitimacy of human authority but not making it absolute. It is from God, but it is not God.

At one point, Jesus said, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s” putting a premium on obedience to the demands of human authority. However, His focus was not on setting that in concrete. Instead, He was pointing out that a heart of rebellion is more dangerous in us than the demands of any Caesar outside of us. One author says that the danger to my soul from unjust, secular governments is nowhere near as great as the danger of pride that kicks against submission to God. Unjust human authorities cannot send me to hell but pride and rebellion sends everyone to hell who doesn’t have a Savior.

This means recognizing human authorities as subordinate and glorifying God as sovereign, yet also recognizing those earthly authorities as God-ordained and not shaking my fist against what He has put in place. My allegiances must be warranted, limited and shaped by God’s authority. Besides, He is able to remove any authority He puts in place. They are not sovereign or all-powerful; only God is!

GAZE INTO HIS GLORY. Knowing God is the ultimate authority helps me with another word that many do not like; submission. God wants my total submission to Him yet I’m also to submit to any authorities that He has ordained. However, If those authorities demand that I violate the authority of God, then He gives direction for such situations: “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Even so, this requires careful discernment of my motivations and of what God asks me to do. Sometimes those in authority over me are revealing my pride and rebellion — that I’m actually going against God who is at work to melt that attitude into sweet surrender. That means requesting clarity such as, “Lord, if this is from You, then I accept and yield to it. If not, show me how to respond so that I am recognizing and submitting to Your authority over me.” Amen.