Calmed by God’s Wisdom

Our Sunday was such a blessing that I’ve braced myself for an attack from the devil. He didn’t do anything much yesterday, but the world news this morning put me in a slump. The fires in CA are to worsen, hitting the areas where we once lived and have friends. My prayers feel like a drop in an ocean of need. The devil’s attack on my emotions is a pittance compared to what these people are going through.

The Lord brings powerful thoughts from Charnock’s book, and even though the dangers remain, God also remains. Charnock reminds me that Satan’s intentions can be what they will, even seem to be working, but God is able to outwit him in his strategies, baffle him in his plans and even use him as an instrument for the good of His people even though this evil entity designs nothing but lies, hurt and destruction.

The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment. (2 Peter 2:9)

As I wonder why God does not move now, Charnock also reminds me that in denials or delays of answers of prayer, God is gracious to hear; but He is wise to answer in an acceptable time, and help us at the right time. We want things now, like rain, no wind, great power in the fire fighters efforts, but do any of us really know what to ask for or the timing of it?

For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2)
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. (Romans 8:26)

Not only is God's timing perfect, but in all evils threatened to so many people by this enemy and in these fires, God knows and has wisdom concerning anyone or anything that looks as if it or they can outsmart Him. “He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end.” (Job 5:13)

I’m also reminded that God defeated the serpent in the first net he laid and “brought a glorious salvation out of hell’s rubbish.” He is just as skillful to disappoint the after-game of the devil’s helpers, the policies of hell, and the subtlety of the world, because… “The wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their craftiness.’ ” (1 Corinthians 3:19) The Word of God also says this:

The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” (Psalm 2:2–6)
No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord. (Proverbs 21:30)
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! (Romans 11:33)

The gospel itself is a declaration of God’s power over Satan and all things. The Son of God bowed down to death upon a cross for the satisfaction of justice and rose triumphantly out of the grave to declare God’s justice was satisfied! Then Jesus was exalted to heaven to intercede for us; and will return into the world to receive us, and invest us with a glory forever with Himself! This overrules all powers, even that of a raging fire. “To the only wise God be glory through Jesus Christ, for ever!”

PRAY: You gave me Scripture that I might know You, learn patience as I yield to Your will, be comforted and live in hope, no matter what is going on in my life or in the world. I pray for thousands who suffer to know the same — and soon — yet trust You because Your wisdom is far greater than mine. You will take care of Your people.

A mandate for these terrible times

Leviticus 6; Psalms 5–6; Proverbs 21; Colossians 4

Bad news. Someone we love dearly had a breakdown and is hospitalized. She is in another country. We cannot travel. She cannot come home. As I came to the Lord again today, He first encourages me with the words of the psalmist.

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee and will look up. (Psalm 5:3, KJV)

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield. (Psalm 5:11–12, ESV)

Look to Him, take refuge in Him. He will protect me and cover me. I am praying He will do the same for this other person. I don’t fully know her spiritual situation, but she needs Jesus and the sense of His presence. Her situation is bad enough but it happens in terrifying times. This pandemic is getting worse.

Before I read the Scriptures, someone called us from the USA. She said that in her part of the world, people are carrying on as if nothing is happening. There is no isolation, distancing or caution. She firmly declared that the biggest reason is this rationale of ‘what is true for you is true for you and what is true for me is true for me’ — because it has replaced objective truth. In other words, if someone believes that Covid-19 is not serious, then for them, it is not serious.

The Bible gave me this verse: “One who wanders from the way of good sense will rest in the assembly of the dead” (Proverbs 21:16) and I shuddered. Other verses say the same thing:

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. (Proverbs 12:15)

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. (Proverbs 14:12)

That view of truth is not working. The news says New York will run out of ventilators in a few days. Bodies are being stored in refrigerated trucks. Hundreds are dying every day in that city along. A self-centered view of truth cannot changed those realities.

Human ideas are failing humanity! We need to seek His face. “No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord.” (Proverbs 21:30)

All that said, what can I do about this? I’m not a doctor or in any position with any skills to do much. But I can pray. For that, God gives more instruction. As usual, He focuses on eternal destiny more than current problems. We will all die eventually, virus or not, and need to make sure we are ready for that.

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. (Colossians 4:2–4)

For those who don’t know Jesus, I’m to make the message clear. I want people to know Jesus so when death comes, they are not fearful but excited to see His face.

I’m also to do it with the right attitude:

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. (Colossians 4:5–6)

For those who are already believers, I can pray for maturity and a true picture of God’s will. Some think that just because they are Christian, they are exempt from this virus. Again, we all die, virus or not. The issue in the time we have before that ‘promotion to glory’ is that we live as Jesus wants us to live. I’m to pray for that for His people, myself included:

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. (Colossians 4:12)

APPLY: See above, but also take this seriously. I’ve never had more time or reason to pray. One of my prayers is that the people of God will be doing the same thing . . . seeking His face and looking up for His truth, direction and strength to obey whatever He tells us.