Tuesday, April 24, 2007
God's Hidden Hand of Providence
God's Hidden Hand of providence. Our pastor taught on this last Sunday. We have been going through the book of Romans, but since our music pastor and almost the entire choir and orchestra are in England(the country) ministering to the people there through music, he decided that he would wait until everyone was back to continue on in Romans.
His sermon was very good...Especially after the Virginia Tech shooting and other things that have occurred recently in his family and in our church. God's providence...we don't always see it, but He is always bringing about His perfect plan for His glory and our good.
Some think God is only obligated to do what we see as good. When bad things happen, some may say that a good loving God would not cause or allow that. I would argue that...you see, God is sovereign and over all things. He hates sin, but He works things out for His glory and for our good...that is encouraging to me. Think about all the bad things that happened in the Bible. What first comes to my mind is Joseph...he had some really bad things happen to him...
What man meant for evil to Joseph, God meant it for good. God's purposes were accomplished in Joseph's life and it brought the Lord glory. I love how Joseph responded to these bad things...he was obedient to God. He forgave others. He trusted in God's plan.
God sees all and knows everything...he knows what we are experiencing now and even before we knew about it, He was orchestrating it all. Are any of you going through a difficult time...not sure why you have the trials you have? Providence is God's loving and sovereign eyes watching over our souls in the most tender ways, while knowing all the details about every trial and heart break. He wants us to run to Him through it all. God's perfect design is in everything that happens...none of it is by chance or fate. And it is all good and right.
Charles Spurgeon in a sermon on providence in 1858:
His sermon was very good...Especially after the Virginia Tech shooting and other things that have occurred recently in his family and in our church. God's providence...we don't always see it, but He is always bringing about His perfect plan for His glory and our good.
Some think God is only obligated to do what we see as good. When bad things happen, some may say that a good loving God would not cause or allow that. I would argue that...you see, God is sovereign and over all things. He hates sin, but He works things out for His glory and for our good...that is encouraging to me. Think about all the bad things that happened in the Bible. What first comes to my mind is Joseph...he had some really bad things happen to him...
1)Being thrown into a pit and lied about to His father, saying he was dead.
2)Being sold by his own flesh and blood to the Egyptians as a slave.
3)Being falsely accused of misconduct with Potiphar's wife.
4)Being imprisoned for those false accusations.
What man meant for evil to Joseph, God meant it for good. God's purposes were accomplished in Joseph's life and it brought the Lord glory. I love how Joseph responded to these bad things...he was obedient to God. He forgave others. He trusted in God's plan.
God sees all and knows everything...he knows what we are experiencing now and even before we knew about it, He was orchestrating it all. Are any of you going through a difficult time...not sure why you have the trials you have? Providence is God's loving and sovereign eyes watching over our souls in the most tender ways, while knowing all the details about every trial and heart break. He wants us to run to Him through it all. God's perfect design is in everything that happens...none of it is by chance or fate. And it is all good and right.
Charles Spurgeon in a sermon on providence in 1858:
I hear one say, "Well, sir, you seem to be a fatalist!" No, far from it. There is just this difference between fate and providence. Fate is blind; providence has eyes. Fate is blind, a thing that must be; it is just an arrow shot from a bow, that must fly onward, but hath no target. Not so, providence; providence is full of eyes. There is a design in everything, and an end to be answered; all things are working together, and working together for good. They are not done because they must be done, but they are done because there is some reason for it. It is not only that the thing is, because it must be; but the thing is, because it is right it should be. God hath not arbitrarily marked out the world's history; he had an eye to the great architecture of perfection, when he marked all the aisles of history, and placed all the pillars of events in the building of time.
"But the very hairs of your head are all numbered."—Matthew 10:30.
I am a stay at home mother to 4. I am very blessed to have a godly husband who loves the Lord and his family. I welcome the days of much needed grace,the times of sweet victories,and the tears of trials,knowing it is all for God's glory. I want my lifesong to sing to Him,the author and finisher of my faith. Soli Deo Gloria--To the Glory of God alone.
12 Comments:
Kim,
The care group we went to Sunday night had a great discussion on this. One thing that really helped me see this clearly was the idea that we see a microscopic view of eternity, God sees all of eternity. So He can see that what we see as evil/tragic is really, in light of eternity, for the good of His people and the just of those who are not His. I love reading your blog btw :)
Kathie
Alistair Begg has a wonderful sermon series on the life of Joseph and the providence of God. It's entitled "Providence," (if I remember correctly!)in case you're interested.
I find the doctrine of providence very comforting. How scary it would be to think that our lives are just "chance". It would scare me to death. So comforting to know that we have a Father who is in charge of everything that happens!
I love the account of Joseph. He had a promise from God and even though he went into a pit, he stood on the promise and believed God. He knew that God would fulfill the promise that was given to him in a dream. He knew God's character of faithfulness. And through the hardships, he didn't give up, but continued trusting God and ending up in the palace being a blessing to his family. Great post girl.
Blessings.
Joseph's life story ministered to me in a new way after my first husband died fifteen years ago. Our son was nine-months-old.
Knowing that God is in control and that God has a plan makes all the difference. We may not always understand, but God has not asked us to. He simply asks us to trust Him. We can because He is trustworthy. He proved it when He died on that cross and rose again from the dead to save us and give us a home in Heaven. Praise God, He always keeps His promises.
Thanks for such an encouraging post on God's purpose and plan.
Kim, It is interesting how I think about God’s providence in different situations or trials. For example when my husband was diagnosed with cancer 10 years ago, although it was a very difficult trial, I got through that time primarily because I wanted/needed to trust in God’s providential purpose in it. Yet on a much smaller scale I have struggled to completely trust God’s providential purpose concerning a trial that I have been going through for almost two years. I think so often I/we struggle to fully embrace God’s providential dealings especially ones that affect us personally because our ‘feelings‘ or sinful reactions cloud our ability to act and think according to His character. When His glory becomes the primary goal in our lives, when, even while our hearts are breaking or we don't see how any good can come from this, we say “He must increase, but I must decrease” then we can truly trust the providential dealings of our good and perfect Father.
That’s His glory at my expense!
Again, your exhortations gave encouragement and cadence to this fellow runner in the faith.
Terri
PS. Thanks for stopping by.
Providence and its privileges given by an Almighty God to His children is indeed one of the most comforting teachings of Scripture. Nothing comes to us that has not first passed His eternal purpose and will for the work He has chosen to do in us, through us, and for us. Great post, Kim.
I loved this post, Kim! How comforting it is for me to think about how the bad circumstances and events still *must* bow to His perfect will for my life.
Kim, I hope you don't mind, but I linked to you today. Thanks for always blessing me!
Thank you for this great post.
I am so blessed by Joseph's story, what a life lesson.
Great post, Kim. And Terri's thoughts (a few comments above) are spot on as well.
Our God is indeed sovereign...and worthy of our praise! Great post, Kim!
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