What is sovereign? God’s will — or my will?

 

It saddens me that some Christians believe that we have the ability to undo what God has done. This is a fist in God’s face and disbelief in His power as well as His promises. The author of the devotional I am reading makes many entries that reveal this idea. Today, the reading says three things that reveal a lack of faith that God is sovereign and that His grace is greater than our sin.

While there is truth in the idea that willing participation plays in the Lord’s saving work, the Bible makes it clear that God is the author of that willingness. Like a hand in a glove, He gives the attitudes and desires that enable me to walk with Him.

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. (John 15:16)

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)

He chose me — I did not choose Him. He is the Savior — I cannot save myself. He enables me to want His will, for in myself, I want what I want, which is the essence of sin (Isaiah 53:6). 

Today’s reading says: “Peace and holiness will be the result of God’s recognized presence. His presence will drive out sin just as sunshine drives out darkness, if the heart will but open itself to its shining.”

To be totally honest, my heart would never be open to God unless God opened it. Sin and selfishness rule apart from His grace. He put Himself in my heart so that its selfishness can be ignored and the will of God reigns. Not always, but only confession of my sinful notions and actions are needed because He is Savior and He does the work of saving me.

The fact of His indwelling is the next statement from today’s reading: “To be the temple of God means to be His dwelling place, the habitation of God. It is almost impossible for the heart of man to conceive of anything so amazing, but if we believe the Bible at all, we must believe that our hearts are the home of our God and that He does continually seek to find a dwelling place there.”

This statement and many others say that if we stop believing it, He has left. Sin can result in that sense of abandonment, but He does not go away. Jesus said, “I am with you always” and other verses confirm this. The devotional author continually suggests that that this is undone if we doubt or sin in other ways.
I do see the problem with my “only God” belief — why then does He choose some and not others? One pastor says, “Why does He choose any of us?” This points to His grace but does not help those who pray for people who seem to never respond to the gospel. All I can say is that God cannot be sovereign unless He does the saving, for He declares that no one ever seeks Him (Psalm 53:1-3 and Romans 3:10-18). Apart from His grace to change hearts, I would be lost.

Today’s reading also says, “As the sunlight fills the air all around us and enters wherever there is an opening, the presence of God fills the whole universe and enters every heart that opens to receive Him.” This suggests the opening is up to us. But is it? Not according to the Word of God. If He did not open my heart, it would still be closed.

PRAY: Jesus, You know how to soften hard hearts. It might be a tragedy, or humbling situations. I can also be Your overwhelming goodness that leads us to repentance. Whatever You do, it is because You know every human heart. You reveal yourself in creation, but if anyone says NO to that, what more can You show them? Saving faith must believe that You exist. You reveal the fact of sin. If anyone says NO to that, what can You do? Let them slide down a slippery slope? (See Romans 1:19ff) You know the heart and the importance of our responses, but without Your enlightenment, I’m convinced that darkness stays dark.

Life too random? Maybe some framework is needed . . .

A policeman is supposed to uphold law. He would have a tough time doing that if he didn’t know or agree with the law that he is upholding. A surgeon is supposed to open and fix whatever has gone wrong in a human body. She would have a tough time doing that if she didn’t know anatomy or agree with the way it is supposed to work.

Even an artist has a set of ‘rules’ that ensure the music or paintings produced is pleasing to the eye or ear, and every mother knows she cannot use chopped cranberries to replace the chocolate when her children expect chocolate chip cookies.

Laws, rules, standards make a framework for nearly everything. I spent most of Saturday trying to fix a problem with my hubby’s laptop. Computers are not fussy; they merely operate according to a set of on/off switches and they all need to agree with each other. Otherwise, the machine does not behave in an expected and acceptable manner.

The physical world would be chaos without this framework. It is no surprise that the spiritual realm also has a framework, a set of principles that keep Christians on track with God. Because of these, I am guided into a walk with Jesus Christ that not only pleases Him but gives me great joy.

In general, a major principle is believing that God exists. Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Romans 1:19ff says that God makes this plain so we have no excuse for not believing it.

For those who accept that principle, two other principles come into play. One is that God loves us. This is most important, but also Satan’s target for an on-going lie. Deep in our hearts, we hear his suggestions every day. He points us to the trials of life, our messy culture, a trouble childhood or any number of negatives that seem to verify his lie. However, if we believe it and fail to abide by the reality of God’s love, we step outside that firm foundation and find ourselves unhappy and with all sorts of problems.

The second principle that believers in God need but struggle with is the one that says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) We deny it, or pass the buck, or make excuses, but without agreeing with this one, we put ourselves outside the framework of spiritual stability. We cannot be godly people without admitting our need for His mercy, grace and forgiveness.

Rather than write a book on this topic, today’s devotional helps me jump to the one for me today. Jesus is talking to His disciples . . .

“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.” (John 14:21–24)

Knowing the commands of God is vital. Keeping them is more so. Living within this framework requires effort on my part. I must read and study the Word of God. I also need to pay attention to life’s lessons. Even more important, I must keep short accounts because knowing the will of God is for those who regularly confess their sin. Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8) Having a pure heart is about short accounts as well. I must stay in a place of continual cleansing, a cleansing that comes to those willing to see and acknowledge all sin and selfishness.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

The idea of God living in my heart is mind-boggling yet my astonishment soon gives way to the responsibility of it. Because He is here, always with me, always loving me, how can I not pay attention to what He says and what He wants of me? The liar would suggest that God is not here, not loving me and His principles are harmful, not for my good . . . which is another principle of God’s kingdom — He loves me and wants good for me, not evil.

Obviously, this framework is built and maintained in a battlefield, a place of spiritual warfare. If I am going to fight and win, I must stick to the Lord’s rules of engagement.

^^^^^^^^^

Lord Jesus, I’m so thankful today for the grace You give, grace that keeps me where You want me, grace that rebukes, corrects, teaches, and fits me for the place that I am in, the place that You are in with me. Thank You for making Your home in my heart and for being a wonderful homemaker who knows how to continually dust and clean. Most of all, thank You for Your Word that fills me with instruction but also with an increasing love for You.