Have you ever wondered; Why am I here? How did I get here? Why am I the way, I am?
Well you’re not alone. We all, from time to time, have struggled with either our status or stature (physicality) in life. The carnal mind is naturally prone to being discontent. However, scripture exhorts us, rather than second guessing God, which can lead to a spiritual brain aneurism, we are to trust in His sovereignty. We are called to place our trust in His ordained plan and purpose.
Jesus’ response to His disciples (John 9:2, 3), when asked “who sinned,” in relationship to the blind man’s condition, is eye opening, to say the least. If God was sovereign over this man’s condition, even though he wasn’t a “believer,” than how much more is God sovereign over my life today?
Faith, in God, calls us to rest in Him; to cease being the captain of our “ship,” by acknowledging the fact, Jesus has been at the helm all of my life. I am here, and I am who I am, because of the sovereign will and grace of God! The apostle Paul writes; (1 Corinthians 15:10) But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. We are “what” we are, because God is **“WHO”**He is! (Exodus 3:14a) And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.”
This is a “liberating” thought; to know that God is actually in control, of my “status” (Jeremiah 10:23) O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps. And my “stature,” (Romans 9:20) But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?”
It frees me from self-deprecation; beating myself up in regards to my status and stature in life. Thus, enabling me to rest in God’s plan, rather than trying to fabricate my own! Suicides are often the result of people attempting to rectify their status and stature in life. Faith, however, places one’s life back into the hands of God; trusting His love and mercy is “greater” than my failures, flaws, and frustrations! Therefore, we can look forward with anticipation to how God will sovereignly “glorify” Himself “in us,” as He did through the life of the blind man, in John 9.
At the “end of the day,” an overused phrase of our time, true peace and joy can only return as we release the helm of our lives into the “hands” of the Master, by faith! Proverbs chapter three says it best; (Proverbs3:5-6) Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
In essence you are exactly whom God meant you to be, and where you are supposed to be; according to the “workmanship” of God. (Ephesians 2:10) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Now “walk” in this confidence, that Christ might be glorified in you; for in His “glory” lies our purpose and our everlasting peace!
Shalom,
Pastor Al
GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY
I’ve heard about this and perhaps you have also. Let’s remember, as many have said over the years, Chuck was merely a man, and therefore, like us, he was capable of miss speaking from time to time. Abortion is something we never want to promote, there are extreme cases, when abortion may be necessary when the mother’s life is threatened; but as believers we must trust in the sovereignty of God over medical prognosis over the viability of a child’s birth.
“…bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” Colossians 3:13
Satan would love to use this to divide God’s people.
For His Glory,
Pastor Al
