I recently listened to a preacher declare to his
congregation – “Everything in your life, the good, the bad, the hurtful, when
others do wrong to you … comes straight from the hand of God so accept it as
part of His plan.” That is not true! There is a huge difference between what
God wills for us in His perfect loving plan and what God allows. He is not the Author
of sin or evil, ever. Human beings are free to choose to seek and follow Him,
or to reject and rebel.
When we reject
Him, our choices are sinful and the inevitable result is suffering – for us, for
others. But, there is an assurance that keeps us at peace even when we suffer because
of the sinful world in which we live. Nothing surprises the Lord and "we know that in all things God works for the
good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
(Romans 8:28, NIV)
The story of Joseph reveals
God’s amazing ability to work through sinful people and circumstances; that
knowing all things, He is able to weave together the threads of life to
accomplish His plan for those who love Him.
As a young man, Joseph’s heart was sensitive to the Spirit. His father
unwisely showed favoritism and the older brothers jealously hated the boy. God,
knowing the awful road of suffering ahead for him, prepared him with two
prophetic dreams. He shared those dreams
with his family stoking the fires of resentment. They are recorded in Genesis 37. The brothers sheaves of grain bowed down to
Joseph’s; and the sun, moon, and stars gave honor to him. His brothers, in
hateful resentment, first plot to kill him and then, when presented with an
opportunity, sold him to traders headed for Egypt.
While God did not orchestrate their sin, He knew their
hearts, knew the choices they would make, and He prepared grace for Joseph in the middle of it all! Stored in Joseph’s mind is the dream that will
sustain him through the next 2 decades of unbelievable difficulties.
My friend, finding the peace of God does not require that we
make Him a monster that deals in evil and suffering. We need not become fatalists
that resign to His supposedly terrible dealings with us. Indeed, James reminds
us that God is good! "Don’t let anyone under pressure to
give in to evil say, “God is trying to trip me up.” God is impervious to evil,
and puts evil in no one’s way. The temptation to give in to evil comes from us
and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our
own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood,
and becomes a real killer. So, my very dear friends, don’t get thrown off
course. Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are
rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing
deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle." (James 1:13-17,
The Message)
Rest in this: nothing that happens to you today is a
surprise to the all-knowing Father and He has already prepared grace for you to
meet the challenge. Jeremiah reminded
the children of God, when they were suffering the results of their rebellion in
captivity in Babylon that God was at work for their restoration. "This is what the LORD says: “When seventy
years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious
promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,”
declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you
hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will
listen to you." (Jeremiah 29:10-12, NIV)
Are you in a time when your heart is broken by the sin of
another?
Are the circumstances of the day marked by disappointment or
difficulties?
Do you find yourself hemmed in by choices made by others
that seem to have no good end?
Don’t blame God! He did not do this to you. Yes, He is
God and He allowed it. We can never deny His power and His mastery of all
things. But, sin is a destroyer of what is good, what is precious, what is
blessed. In that He is a Restorer of those who turn to Him. He frees us from slavery to sin and enables us
to live in His kingdom. He works through us to accomplish His will and to bring
honor to His Name. So, trust His saving
grace through it all.
Many years after those brothers sold Joseph, they were standing
before him in Pharaoh’s court, bowing down, just as God had revealed. Joseph,
full of grace and forgiveness, declares this faithful statement. Make it your
word from the Word today and be strengthened to stand. "But Joseph told them, “Don’t be afraid of
me. Am I God, to judge and punish you? As far as I am concerned, God turned into good what you meant for
evil. He brought me to the high position I have today so I could save the
lives of many people." (Genesis 50:19-20, NLT)
Amen!
_____________
Good,
Good Father (listen, learn, and worship at this link)
I've heard a thousand
stories
Of what they think
You’re like
But I've heard the
tender whisper
Of love in the dead of
night
You tell me that
You’re pleased
And that I'm never
alone
You're a Good Good
Father
It's who You are
It's who You are
It's who You are
And I'm loved by You
It's who I am
It's who I am
It's who I am
I've seen many
searching for answers
Far and wide
But I know we're all
searching for answers
Only You provide
Because You know just
what we need
Before we say a word
You are perfect in all
of Your ways
You are perfect in all
of Your ways
You are perfect in all
of Your ways to us
Love so undeniable I
can hardly speak
Peace so unexplainable
I can hardly think
As You call me deeper
still
As You call me deeper
still
As You call me deeper
still
Into love love love
You're a Good Good
Father
It's who You are
It's who You are
It's who You are
And I'm loved by You
It's who I am
It's who I am
It's who I am
Anthony Brown | Pat Barrett
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Publishing)
Common Hymnal Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
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