PODCAST
Hide & Seek?
August 24th, 2014
Psalm 143:1-12
I know of no other aspect of the Christian life that is open to more “fuzziness” in thinking than “God’s will.”
There are those who think that they must ask God for His specific will in just about every decision. Should I go shopping today? Should I buy a Honda or a Toyota? Should I invite my new neighbors over for dinner? Some twist themselves into a pretzel agonizing over God’s will.
Then there are those who each day pray for general guidance. They then go about the day making decisions they feel are sound and within the scope of Christian living.
In working with students I often use this illustration. When God made you He gave you two lungs: What is the purpose of your lungs? the purpose of your heart, liver, gallbladder? The students respond correctly. Then I ask them what is the purpose of their brain? They stop!! Oh, that must mean that God wants me to think, study, compare—do my part in understanding the issues at hand.
Some say if something is God’s will, everything will be positive–success, achievement, recognition, etc. In other words, you could not fail.
Author: Patricia Kissell
August 24th, 2014 at 8:09 am
I enjoy your devotionals Patricia! Thank you!
The RG printed version has a question at the end. “How many of us could counter that?”
That question could be read two ways. Meaning anyone could counter it or no one could successfully. Not sure which was meant.
I am reminded of the great amount of persecution in the world today and even for all times. Loss of jobs, family, freedom.. Beatings, imprisonment, abuse, torture and even death. Ghastly things to consider indeed. Yet both Jesus and several scriptures in the New Testament tell us that suffering persecution for Christ’s sake is to be expected and is in fact blessed by God.
Is that then considered “positive, success, achievement and recognition?” Certainly not by man’s standards.
Certainly by God’s standards it is!
Perhaps the answer lies in what we define as “success, etc”…
It surely is not the accumulation of goods nor the praise of man!
August 24th, 2014 at 8:28 am
Thank you, Russ, for pointing this out. I was left with a big question mark after reading today’s devotional. This missing sentence explains it.