Or watch the Video Zoom Session of our Study on YouTube:
The Weight of the Past
“...forgetting those
things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I
press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ
Jesus.” Phil. 3:13,14
Adam was created from the dust,
in the image of God, and received the breath of life. He was a man without a
past, but he was also designed to have a memory. When God commanded “the
man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree
of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat…”
Gen.
2:16,17, it was necessary for Adam to remember
that command.
As we have seen in past
studies, there are good dimensions to design and corruptible dimensions. Memory
is a gift of God’s design and a reflection of His likeness. In Gen. 9:15 God
says to Noah, “and I will remember My covenant…” God charges the
children of Israel to remember the Passover, and we are directed by Jesus, when
celebrating the supper to, “do this in remembrance of Me”
Remember is translated “be
mindful” in the YLT. and, Phil. 4:8 gives a list of good things to, “think
on” or “meditate on”. These are God honoring expressions of
the use of memory.
But
we see how memory is subject to frailty and corruption.
In Gen. 3:1 we see Satan
engaging “the Woman” in the realm of remembrance, and He immediately
exploits her failure. In the wilderness of Exodus the children of Israel are
inappropriately remembering Egypt (Num. 11.5) and longing to return as if there
was some virtue there. The entire letter to the Galatians is a corrective
epistle compelling them to remember the means of their salvation that they may
not depart from the Spiritual life in Christ.
In essence, corrupted or
inaccurate memory is a lie. It is a distortion or an outright departure from the
truth. And we know who is the “father of” lies. Jn. 8:44
When we distort or exaggerate
the truth, in the form of a story, or a remembrance, or prophecy a lie in the
form of something comical or outright ungodly, we are exalting self and walking
in the likeness of Satan. This was Satan’s real temptation in Gen. 3; exalt
yourself by knowing the hidden knowledge, and be like me, desiring and
receiving worship.
We may tell a story
inaccurately hoping to get a favorable reaction (worship) or demonstrating ourselves
to know something fully that we only know in part (exaltation).
Pastor Finn use to say, “the
past is only useful for the school of remembrance”, but if that remembrance is
inaccurate then the movement forward will also be off course.
Our words are powerful; more
so than we understand. James says, “no man can tame the tongue”: Read
Js. 3:1-12. We can and will have our confession.
We are new creations in
Christ, II Cor. 5:17 and Eph. 4:20-24
The old man is dead, Rm.
6:3-6
Yet we resurrect him by giving
him a voice with our perky stories about our past (which may be true), with
inaccurate remembrances from our past, and with inappropriate prophecies about
ourselves and others. Satan gains access and authority through our voices.
When we declare someone evil,
that is a lie against the word of God. Rm.
12:14,“bless and do not curse.”
When we declare someone (even
ourselves) contrary to how God created them; a loser, stupid, ugly,
incompetent, gay, we; “bear false witness”Ex. 20:16
When we distort the truth we
align with, “savage wolves”
Acts 20:29,30
We must be far more
mindful of our speech!
Why exalt the old man by
giving him a voice?
Col. 4:6
“Let your speech always be with grace,
seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”
Rom. 15:18 “For I will not dare to speak of any of those
things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make
the Gentiles obedient”
Col. 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all
wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
Col. 3:9, “Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the
old man with his deeds.”
II Cor. 10:5,“casting down arguments and every high thing that
exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought (and
subsequently, every word) into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”
“For My yoke is easy and
My burden is light” Jesus, Mt. 11:30
Throw off the weight of the
past. Give it to Jesus!
Give Him glory, honor and
praise!!!
-----Join
us for another Bible Study Next Week -------
or
Join our “Victory over the Darkness”, “The Bondage Breaker”,
"Freedom in Christ" series of Discipleship Classes via the mt4christ247
podcast!
“The views, opinions, and commentary of this publication are
those of the author, M.T. Clark, only, and do not purport to reflect the
opinions or views of any of the photographers, artists, ministries, or other
authors of the other works that may be included in this publication, and do not
necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities the author may
represent.”
Encouragement for the Path of
Christian Discipleship
Or watch the Video Zoom Session of our Study on YouTube:
Doin’ Business With God
“Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try
me, and know my anxieties;
And
see if there is any wicked way in me,
And
lead me in the way everlasting.” Ps. 139:23,24
Eventually each one of us
will have to do business with our God. The most dangerous thing you can do is
to takeyourfaith seriously.
Jesus said, “If anyone
comes to Me and does not hate his life father and
mother, wife, and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.Lk
14:26
These are fighting words. A war within rages between the new creation man, and
the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life. Our worst
enemy is casual, melancholy, sentimental, Christianity. Jesus says He will, “vomit
you out of My mouth.”
Believe it or not, God is
serious about this stuff.
What is it that we speculate
Jesus meant when He said things like, “But I say to you that for every idle
word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.” Mt. 12:36
or
“Then He said to them all,
‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross daily, and follow Me.”Lk. 9:23
God is determined, through
sanctification, to change us into the image of His Son. Rom. 8:29,“For
whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son…”
and
II Cor. 3:18, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a
mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from
glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
So, how does He do this?
When a metallurgist, when purifying gold, will turn up the heat in order to bring the dross to the
top of the liquid gold. He scoops it
off, and when he can see his own reflection in the
pot, he knows that the gold is pure.
How can we miss the metaphor?
“FortheLORDyourGod is aconsumingfire,ajealousGod”Deu. 4:24
I Pet. 1:7 says, “that the genuineness of your faith, being much
more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be
found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Does God turn up the heat?That’s hardly a
fair or worthy question.
But in Lk. 22:31, Jesus
said to Peter, “Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat."
Satan turns up the heat in order to break us, but the next vrs. reveals the
Lord’s heart toward us, “But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not
fail.”
“take every thought captive
to make it obedient to Christ”II Co. 10:5
Before it becomes a word.
For, “The tongue has the
power of life and death”Prov. 18:21
Balak said, “Must I not
take heed to speak what the LORD has put in my mouth?” Num. 23:12
That was the Spirit of Christ
in him, who would say more perfectly later, “For I have not spoken on My own
authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and
what I should speak.”Jn. 12:49
When trials come to the believer, waves of conviction should
likewise accompany it. It’s time to do business with God. We should be willing
and anxious to purge out the leaven, even the subtle sins, as Peter says, “laying
aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy and evil speaking.” I Pe.2:1. It’s
time to take inventory. Not that God would instantaneously remove the trial but
that He would give us grace to endure it. He said to Paul, “My grace is
sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” II Cor. 12:9
-----Join
us for another Bible Study Next Week -------
or
Join our “Victory over the Darkness”, “The Bondage Breaker”,
"Freedom in Christ" series of Discipleship Classes via the mt4christ247
podcast!
“The views, opinions, and commentary of this publication are
those of the author, M.T. Clark, only, and do not purport to reflect the
opinions or views of any of the photographers, artists, ministries, or other
authors of the other works that may be included in this publication, and do not
necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities the author may
represent.”
Encouragement for the Path of
Christian Discipleship
Or watch the Video Zoom Session of our Study on YouTube:
Lord, Open Our Understanding!
“And He opened their
understanding that they might comprehend the Scriptures.” Lk. 24:45
How often have you used the
phrase, “I believe that we have a misunderstanding”?
Understanding can be pared
into two types:
Understanding the way things are; how things work.
Understanding people, and their intent.
In both cases God is the
Author of true, accurate, and appropriate understanding.
Regarding the way things are,
Ex. 31:1-6 tells the account of how God called Bezalel, and “filled him with
the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner
of workmanship.”vs. 3
They may have acquired some
skills up to that point, but we must never forget Heb. 3:4,“For
every house has a builder, but the one who built everything is God.”
Prov. 4:7 says, “Wisdom is
the principal thing;
Therefore get
wisdom.
And
in all your getting, get understanding.”
When faced with situations,
tasks or problems that seem to defy solution, this is the time to turn and ask
the One who created all things. See Js.
1:5
I marvel at the ingenuity of
man. I sometimes marvel at my own abilities, but so much more over the talents
and abilities of others concerning that which I could never figure out apart
from the grace of God.
This ingenuity is an act of,
what is called, “common grace” weather the possessor of such admits it or not.
It comes from somewhere, and we know that the source of all good is God.
See Js. 1:17
More tedious, at times, is the
capacity to know, or understand. another person. This relies upon a confluence
of factors including language, cultural framework, past encounters, and depth
of relationship.
It is often life’s greatest
joy to truly understand another person in all their complexity. Wearetruly,“fearfully
and wonderfully made.”
Imagine trying to figure out
God. This is the effort of every false religion. Paul says, “O the depth of
the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His
judgments, and His ways past finding out!”Rom. 11:33
Apart from revelation, we fail terribly.
The Scriptures may lead the
natural man into some practical wisdom in order to navigate life. This was the
intent of the Law.
On the road to the village of
Emmaus, two men, who knew the Scriptures, were walking, and talking, and trying
to figure out what had just happened, when Jesus came along side and walked
with them. In this encounter they heard some of the greatest preaching ever
heard, but yet did not understand. They say, “Did not our heart burn within us
while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” Lk. 24:32
Pr. James Finn observes this
pattern from this text:
“He took...He blessed...He broke…and He gave”
“Then their eyes were open and they knew Him” Lk. 24:30,31
Remember, the call to eternal
life, from Jn. 17:3 is to, “know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom
You have sent.”
In all our interaction with
God we should pray for revelation. Otherwise, we will be swept away by winds of
false doctrine.
Jn. 16:13 says, “The Spirit
of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth.”
Wait for the taking, the blessing, the breaking,
before giving!
-----Join us for
another Bible Study Next Week -------
or
Join our “Victory over
the Darkness”, “The Bondage Breaker”, "Freedom in Christ" series of
Discipleship Classes via the mt4christ247 podcast!
“The views, opinions, and commentary of this publication are
those of the author, M.T. Clark, or Arthur Cincotti, only, and do not purport to
reflect the opinions or views of any of the photographers, artists, ministries,
or other authors of the other works that may be included in this publication,
and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities the
authors may represent.”
Encouragement for the Path of Christian
Discipleship
Or watch the Video Zoom Session of our Study on YouTube:
Hypocrisy
The Curse of Religion
“Pure and undefiled religion
before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their
trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world” Jas. 1:27
Two reasons I’ve chosen to study, and consider
hypocrisy are because, 1) it is one of the strongest condemnations that the
Lord Jesus wielded in some of His discourse, and 2) because it is the most
common criticism wielded against believers.
I think that it is important to note that in a culture that
has essentially jettisoned any semblance of moral standard, absolute truth, or
universally accepted virtues, hypocrisy is still rejected, sneered at,
abhorred, and pretty much considered as disgusting.
Hypocrisy is a complicated word. Some synonyms would
include: insincerity, pretense, and double mindedness. The Greek definition
refers to being, “under as mask” and refers to a stage actor playing a part.
The generally accepted meaning is the act of when one’s outward actions
contradict their inner convictions, or their professions of such.
Jesus first usage of the word is found in the “sermon on the
mount,” Mt. 6:2-16. In three instances, calling out charitable deeds, prayer,
and fasting, Jesus declares, “hypocrites” proclaiming that, when the practice
of the above are engaged in for the “approval of men,” other than obedience to
God, a deep insincerity lies at the core of the action. His condemnation is, “I
say to you, they have their reward” and that reward is temporal.
Later, in Matthews gospel
Jesus is speaking more specifically to the scribes, Sadducees andPharisees, the religious leaders of that
culture, directly calling them out as, “hypocrites!” for outwardly professing
adherence to the law, while inwardly clinging to all forms of corruption.See Mt. 15:1-9, Mt. 16:1-4, Mt. 22:15-21
all of Mt. 23.
Finally, in a parable Jesus
uses very powerful language, “and will cut him in two and appoint him his
portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Mt.
24:45-51
Since Jesus spoke so
forcefully against hypocrisy, it might be wisdom for us to carefully consider
this evil.
James speaks of this evil in
ch. 3:13-18, saying, “wisdom that is from above is...without hypocrisy.”
As believers we feel the
weight of this condemnation from the world. Though we intend to live
righteously before men, we fail miserably.
Like Paul, in Rom. 7:15 we
scarcely understand our actions; “For what I am doing, I do not understand, For
what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.”
That’s hypocrisy!
Except for one caveat; we
don’t claim to be perfected. The only thing we rightfully claim is to be
Christs’; that is, belonging to Him.
That’s why Paul can say in
the next chapter, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are
in Christ Jesus”
Notice that the condemnation
of “hypocrisy” is typically from the world, and “the world” is clearly confused
about everything.
This doesn’t let us off the
hook from walking in repentance. It grieves the Holy Spirit when fall short of
the glory Christ purchased for us.
We hold in tension this harsh
condemnation of hypocrisy by Jesus and His continuous extension of forgiveness
(I Jn. 1:9)
We’re not perfect, and don’t
claim to be, so there is no hypocrisy, but we are forgiven. The world knows
nothing of this.
But they should. We should tell them!!!
-----Join us for
another Bible Study Next Week -------
or
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the Darkness”, “The Bondage Breaker”, "Freedom in Christ" series of
Discipleship Classes via the mt4christ247 podcast!
Today’s photo of the sun over a stream or inlet of Cliffside
Lake in Highlands NC comes to us from Fred Dimmick who shared this photo on
social media on the first of the year. This is the third and final photo that
Fred shared from that First Day trip, and it may be only seven days into the
new year and it may seem that the photo of the day has been dominated by Mr. Dimmick
lately but I thought all of his photos were all more than worthy to be used to
give God glory.And that is the first
thing, we always want to do when we are appreciating nature, to recognize the
beauty that we see as the Lord’s handiwork and to give credit where credit is
due, to worship the Creator and not the creation.
Well, It’s the first Saturday of 2023, and although
I have to work today I am still staying positive because my job provides for my
financial needs and even though I could imagine better ways to make a living,
this is the way that I am making a living. So I will be content and remember all the ways
my job has blessed me and continues to bless me rather than pine away for something
else.Yes, if we are discontented with
our current situations in life, I suppose we have three choices: we can ruin our
mental health by lamenting over our current state, we can decide to be content
with it, or we can set goals and take action to change it.Two out of three of those choices will provide
the space we need for peace and joy in our life. So whether you decide to stay
or go, don’t lose your peace by dwelling on the negative aspects of life.That’s the enemy’s trap, to deceive us by
painting everything in a negative light.
I can also be content today because I am in
relatively good health.Sure, I still
need to do some work and be disciplined if I ever want to accomplish my health
goals, to change that BMI number to a “normal” range and to possibly lose
enough weight to make my need for a sleep apnea machine to disappear, but I can’t
change that overnight and the truth is that I am in better shape now at 50 than
I was in my 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s. So I may not be where I want to be yet, but I
can rejoice over where I am today. I can be content with where I am but still
endeavor to make things even better.
As for our health, things can change quickly. Today we are asking for prayers for Fred
Dimmick because his health turned south quickly, and we learned yesterday that
he is slated for surgery today for appendicitis.So, we will be praying for Fred’s surgery,
healing, and recovery today and will continue to pray for him until he is back
on his feet.
My other friend Bob Griffin is battling cancer.We are also praying for Bob daily.
So yeah, I work today – on a Saturday boo hoo – but I
am not going in for surgery, and I am not battling cancer.The point is that no matter what our situations
are, there are, most likely, other people who are going through things that
would make our plight seem to be a walk in the park.The point is not to figure out who has it
worse but to encourage all of us to recognize the positive aspects of where we
are no matter what our circumstance are.
If we have Christ, we have everything we need.And if we look at our circumstances
truthfully, don’t take our blessings for granted, and do some comparative analysis
we will see that we have many things to be thankful for and thus we have things
to thank God for.
As I rise each day, I practice gratitude. G iving
thanks to God, keeps me grounded in the reality of just how wonderful my life
is – regardless of the problems and trials I may have to face.When you stay close to God and continually
give thanks for Him, what He has done, and what we have received, we can not
only face trials with strength and hope for good outcomes, we can be content
and be at peace with whatever we receive. That’s why I make gratitude, one of
the first things I do each morning.
Gratitude is form of prayer, as we are thanking God,
and after I thank Him for a new day and the continual good things in my life, I
go to the Lord with the challenges I and others face.I pray for my friends who facing hard things.
I pray for people who are asking for prayer though my local church. I pray for
my family, and I pray for people to either put their faith in Christ or to
follow Him.So prayer is another one of
the first things I do each day.
I have discovered that it is by abiding with God,
and by following His lead, that our lives are transformed from exercises in
frustration and bitter disappointments to lives of peace, wonder, and joy. So
it is my prayer that other people trust the Lord enough to follow Him so they can
discover this too.That’s what this blog
is all about – I’m pointing to the Truth, the Way, and the Life – to Jesus –
and the new abundant life that results from our decision to follow Him, come
what may.
Another thing I like to keep first is Bible study.
My musings and speculations are compelling I suppose. I can figure out some things
from the cause and effect results of my actions, but God’s word tells us the
truth. The Bible tells us what is right and wrong and gives us the wisdom we
need in life. God’s word is our guidebook and when we follow it we tend to
prosper, but even if we don’t, it reminds us that God is still in control and
is somehow working all things together for good.
So because I ran out of time to share the “Bible
Verse of the day” over the last few days I am sharing it now:
Today’s Bible verse comes to us from “The NLT Bible
Promise Book for Men”.
This morning’s meditation verses are:
2 Timothy 2:10-13 (NLT2) 10 So I am willing to endure
anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those
God has chosen. 11 This is a trustworthy
saying: If we die with him, we will also live with him. 12 If we endure hardship, we
will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us. 13 If we are unfaithful, he
remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.
Today’s verses encourage us that our attitude towards
life is that we should be willing to endure anything if it could possibly bring
salvation to others or glory to God.
Ironically, our endurance itself can give glory to
God.Bob Griffin, who is in pain and
battling cancer, took to Instagram the
other day to encourage others to take their pains to God in prayer.Bob’s endurance and his faithfulness to point
others to the Lord gives God glory.Bob
is no stranger to pain, as His testimony that I share on the MT4Christ247 YouTube
channel can tell you.But it is because
Bob has walked through the fire with the Lord before that he can still trust Him
and encourage others to put their faith in Jesus and follow Him.
As these verses say: If we die with Him, we will
also live with Him.If we endure
hardship, we will reign with Him.
But if we deny Him, He will deny us.
But even if we are unfaithful, God doesn’t follow
suit.
God remains faithful because that’s who He is: faithful
and true – and He can’t deny who He is.
These are just a few verses from the word of God
that can give us the hope to endure through our trials and can remind us of our
eternal relationship with the Father.When we know this, we can endure, we can be content, and we can face possible
death and whatever hardships this world may throw at us with peace and
confidence because we know that God is faithful.
The life giving wisdom from God’s word is the reason
why Bible study is one of the first things I do each day.
Right now there is a worship song on the Christians
stations that speaks the truth to keep the first things first.God’s the first thing and He is the One we
need to connect with.The song is “First
things First by Consuming Fire” and the lyrics echo my heart’s intention. A
portion of that song that speaks to God says:
I
don't wanna love what the world loves
I don't wanna chase what the world does
I only want you
I only want you
First
thing's first
I seek Your will
Not my own
Surrender all my wants to you
Keep the first thing first
To live Your truth
Walk Your ways
Set my eyes
Lord I fix my face on you
All my desires reversed
To keep the first thing first”
God and our relationship
with Him is THE FIRST THING. So each day
we should surrender our will and ways for the wisdom of the Lord.We should make the first things we do each
day things that will draw us close to God. Gratitude, prayer, Bible study, and praising
the Lord are easy ways to come into God’s presence and give you the peace and
confidence to remain content with whatever circumstances each new day
brings.
So, if you have the day
off today enjoy it, but remember to keep the first things first by choosing to
keep on walking and talking with God.
___________________________________________
As always, I invite all to go to mt4christ.org where I
always share insights from prominent Christian theologians and counselors to
assist my brothers and sisters in Christ with their walk.
Today we continue sharing from A.W. Pink’s “The
Sovereignty of God”
As always, I share this information for educational
purposes and encourage all to purchase Bonhoeffer’s books for your own
private study and to support his work. This resource is available on
many websites for less than $20.00.
THE
SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD
ByARTHUR W. PINK
CHAPTER TWO
THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD IN CREATION, concludes
Look at
the animal kingdom
and note the wondrous variety. What comparison is possible between the lion and
the lamb, the bear and the kid, the elephant and the mouse? Some, like the
horse and the dog, are gifted with great intelligence; while others, like sheep
and swine, are almost devoid of it. Why? Some are designed to be beasts of
burden, while others enjoy a life of freedom. But why should the mule and the
donkey be shackled to a life of drudgery while the lion and tiger are allowed
to roam the jungle at their pleasure? Some are fit for food, others unfit; some
are beautiful, others ugly; some are endowed with great strength, others are
quite helpless; some are fleet of foot, others can scarcely crawl—contrast the
hare and the tortoise; some are of use to man, others appear to be quite
valueless; some live for centuries, others a few months at most; some are tame,
others fierce. But why all these variations and differences? What is true of
the animals is equally true of the birds and fishes.
But consider now the vegetable kingdom. Why should roses
have thorns, and lilies grow without them? Why should one flower emit a
fragrant aroma and another have none? Why should one tree bear fruit which is
wholesome and another that which is poisonous? Why should one vegetable be
capable of enduring frost and another wither under it? Why should one apple
tree be loaded with fruit, and another tree of the same age and in the same
orchard be almost barren? Why should one plant flower a dozen times in a year
and another bear blossoms but once a century? Truly, “whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did He in heaven, and in the
earth, in the seas, and all deep places” (Psa. 135:6).
Consider
the angelic hosts.
Surely we shall find uniformity here. But no; there, as elsewhere, the same
sovereign pleasure of the Creator is displayed. Some are higher in rank than
others; some are more powerful than others; some are nearer to God than others.
Scripture reveals a definite and well-defined gradation in the angelic orders.
From arch-angel, past seraphim and cherubim, we come to “principalities and
powers” (Eph. 3:10), and from principalities and powers to “rulers” (Eph.
6:12), and then to the angels themselves, and even among them we read of “the elect angels” (1 Tim. 5:21). Again we
ask, Why this inequality, this
difference in rank and order? And all we can say is “Our God is in the heavens,
He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased” (Psa. 115:3).
If then we see the
sovereignty of God displayed throughout all creation, why should it be thought
a strange thing if we behold it operating in the midst of the human family? Why should it be thought strange if to one God is
pleased to give five talents and to another only one? Why should it be thought
strange if one is born with a robust constitution and another of the same
parents is frail and sickly? Why should it be thought strange if Abel is cut
off in his prime, while Cain is suffered to live on for many years? Why should
it be thought strange that some should be born black and others white; some be
born idiots and others with high intellectual endowments; some be born
constitutionally lethargic and others full of energy; some be born with a
temperament that is selfish, fiery, egotistical, others who are naturally
self-sacrificing, submissive and meek? Why should it be thought strange if some
are qualified by nature to lead and rule, while others are only fitted to
follow and serve? Heredity and environment cannot account for all these
variations and inequalities. No; it is God
who maketh one to differ from another. Why should He? “Even so, Father, for so
it seemed good in Thy sight” must be our reply.
Learn then this basic
truth, that the Creator is absolute Sovereign, executing His own will, performing
His own pleasure, and considering nought but His own glory. “The Lord hath made all things FOR HIMSELF”
(Prov. 16:4). And had He not a perfect right
to? Since God is God, who dare
challenge His prerogative? To murmur against Him is rank rebellion. To question
His ways is to impugn His wisdom. To criticize Him is sin of the deepest dye.
Have we forgotten who He is? Behold,
“All nations before Him as are nothing; and they are counted to Him less than
nothing, and vanity. To whom then will ye liken God?” (Isa. 40:17, 18).[1]
“The views, opinions, and commentary of this
publication are those of the author, M.T. Clark, only, and do not purport to
reflect the opinions or views of any of the photographers, artists, ministries,
or other authors of the other works that may be included in this publication,
and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities the
author may represent.”
Encouragement
for the Path of Christian Discipleship
