Daily Potpourri

Each generation that inhabits the earth is brought forth according to God’s great plan.  When the appointed time has come, each appears on the stage of history; and when the time for their dismissal comes, he sends them away.  

The time of our appearing is now.  Our ancestors have left vacant their place and gone down into the dust — as did theirs before them.  Now is our time to be permitted to act out our part freely, without restraint or reservation.  So we proceed, steadfast in the knowledge that there is not a day in our life, nor an event in a day, that is unforeseen by God.  

Some teach that God is a source of power which people can learn to channel into self if the correct means are applied or the right technique taught.  Prayer, for instance, becomes a conduit for tapping into and receiving this power.  God is a vast reserve of compliant energy which is controlled at our command.  Such a use of power is to assume that God can be manipulated or subjugated no differently than the way we master nature for our own personal betterment.  

Contrary to all of this, the Bible teaches us that peace, power, and victory over life flow from the acceptance of our limitations, and out of our confessing that our wants and wishes are, at best, self-absorbed, misdirected, and blind.  Prayer is the pouring out of our smallness before the greatness of God.  A humble heart is what is required by God, not techniques or mechanics.  

Though our sins are forgiven by God, the penalties imposed by the world for our sins may afflict us through life.  God may choose to remember our wrongs no more, but the effect which we have on those who surround us in this world, and the effect which the world has on us in return, are things which may be borne by us to the end of our days.  Christians often believe that if our sins have been forgiven, then all is forgotten, and there are no further consequences to our actions.  But that is not always so — nor should it be. 

“The sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me.” —II Samuel 12:10 

If we say that God governs the universe, then we must also say that nothing happens upon the earth apart from his providence.  Our actions are according to his will.  His wisdom, beyond our power to understand, is involved in the the world’s transactions.  We see ambitions clashing as people pursue selfish ends.  We know of hurtful strategies as some people seek to gain at the expense of others.  Though the world appears to fill us with darkness and chaos, to God they may be light and order. What we see lies on the surface, below it moves the irresistible hand of God.  

“The wrath of men shall praise thee.”  Psalm 76:10

Some state that Christ was the only perfect person — the supreme example of how we are to live.  There are others who profess that Christ was filled with the Holy Spirit, thereby revealing the grace of God more than any other person.  Then there are also many who say that Christ was was special person, chosen by God and thus blessed in a life of teaching God’s ways.  These are all wrong. 

Christ was God — God was Christ.  This is the truth.  When Mary gave birth it was God who was born into the world.  When Jesus spoke, it was God who was speaking. When Christ healed the sick, the lame, and the blind, it was God who restored them to health.  And when Christ was crucified, it was God who died.  

“God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself.” —II Corinthians 5:19

It is not very fashionable these days for God to be in control.  We live in a world where civility is more important than virtue, therefore we allow behavior known to be wrong because we want to “get along.”  We keep silent in the face of untruth for fear of criticism.  We participate in that which stands contrary to our faith in the false belief that peace will be promoted.  

If God is going to be in control of our life, then it requires standing up for that which is not popular.  When God is in control we tend to do what is right, and what is right is not always what is popular.   

People have a tendency to think that God is not here simply because we do not see him.  But centuries ago he spoke the words, “I am with you always,” and that is just as true today.  We are never out of God’s sight or knowledge, even for a moment.  God watches and knows our lives every instant, and not a time goes by when he does not come to us in our need or comfort us in our pain.  So we can rest in “blessed assurance,” knowing that God sees us and delivers us.  

A lot of people are concerned with whether other people are happy with them or not.  This comes out in questions like, “Is your father happy with you?” or “I sure hope my aunt is happy I did this.”  Most of the time the purpose for such feelings is to assure self that another person’s approval is being received.  In other words, approval and fulfillment are found through the blessings of others.  

This ultimately leads to the question of whether God is happy with us.  But in truth, we already know the answer before we ask.  It is not our job to make God happy, but rather to simply obey.  If we follow God’s laws, and walk humbly with him, will he not be happy?  Yet, whether or not God is happy is really a secondary point.  God created us, and he will do with us as he pleases.  God is just, and he will judge accordingly and do what is right.   

Many in the Christian community focus on God’s affirming relationship with people.  God is their “Life Partner,” or “Problem Solver.”  There is no matter, difficulty, or situation which cannot be solved or sorted out if God is near.  The benefits of His help belong to those who lean on Him, trust Him, and talk with Him.  

While such an understanding of God may be comforting, it is greatly limited and shows a one-dimensional faith.  Throughout the pages of scripture, God reveals Himself to us  not as our partner, but as our Lord, our Savior, and our Judge.  

If God gives us a task, He will share in its being carried out.  We may be an instrument of the Lord, but it is God who is using the instrument.  We are a channel, but He is the One who opens the gates so that whatever is desired may flow through us. We are the builders, but He is the Architect of the design.  Therefore, whatever task we have, whatever opportunity or work is ours, we should know that God is in it.  

How supportive this is — and how humbling as well.  The Great God Almighty is with us, and He does not fail.  

As a Christian walks through life, many things happen which seem bad.  From our perspective, nothing evil can ever be seen as bringing good.  Yet we know that our Heavenly Father wishes us no harm and sends our way only those things which He sees as good.  All griefs lead to blessings.  All trials bring possibilities.  All pain looks toward promise.  All that God wills for us comes to pass if only we allow God to work out the issue, and stop relying on our own wisdom and strength.  No matter how dark the night, it bears within the gifts of love and grace.  

Humans have a tendency to seek out friends in times of need or in seasons of trouble.  But let us not forget that God can come in human form.  His words flow through human lips.  His embrace is felt in human arms.  His love is made manifest from human hearts.  

God wants us to come to Him first, but we often fail to do that seeking out other people instead.  However, let us never forget, that behind the love of a human friend may stand God reaching out to help us.   

We are fond of saying that the ways of God are not the ways of man, but do we really believe it?  Do we really believe that there may be a difference between what we want and God’s purposes?  We want God to support us in our self-identified endeavors.  However, God does have His plan for the world, and whether we agree with it or not, His ends will be accomplished.  

To deny any part of this is to deny that there is a God governing the world.  It is to His end and for His purposes that God uses us — we do not use God.    

Prayer is often answered not by God giving us what we desire, but by bringing our desires into line with His will.  We may pray to have our burden lightened, and in response He gives us strength to bear it.  We may pray to escape conflict, but He will give us the energy and intelligence to win over it.  The blessings which we see as necessary are often not in our own best interest.  

It would appear, that for God, victory in conflict is better than freedom from it, and strength to endure is of more value than relief from the burden.  Perhaps God’s great lesson is this: To know peace at the center of a storm is of greater blessing than being lifted above it. 

“…nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt”  Matthew 26:39

Everything in this world is done on God’s time schedule, not ours.  We seldom recognized the hand and the timing which God has in it all.  Usually,  it is only afterwards, when viewing the failures and successes, the disappointments and rewards, the hardships and the affirmations, that we see God at work and the wisdom of His schedule.  

God’s clock is always accurate.  

Even within the worst of humans there is a soul created in the image of God.  The responsibility of the Christian, with God’s help, is to awaken that good and bring to awareness what is holy.  Only grace can ultimately restore, but the Christian is to be the instrument through which that grace does flow.  Thus is evil defeated.  

When life is rewarding, affirming, and filled with peace, it is easy to say that God is good.  But when life goes into its depths — when life seems against us and happiness has run its course — then seeing the Hand of God becomes much more difficult.  

Yet the Providence of God is just as sure in the depths of life as in the heights.  God comes to us in varied ways, at different times and in circumstances beyond our comprehension.  But whatever prosperity or adversity we perceive, God brings it in love.