"As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things." Ecclesiastes 11:5
"God is in heaven. you are on earth. so let your words be few." Ecclesiastes 5:2
"I am unworthy - how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth." Job 40:4
“Some things in nature must remain a mystery to the most intelligent and enterprising investigators. Human knowledge has bounds beyond which it cannot pass. Universal knowledge is for God alone. If this be so in the things which are seen and temporal, I may rest assured that it is even more so in matters spiritual and eternal. Why, then, have I been torturing my brain with speculations as to destiny and will, fixed fate, and human responsibility? These deep and dark truths I am no more able to comprehend than to find out the depth which coucheth beneath, from which old ocean draws her watery stores. Why am I so curious to know the reason of my Lord’s providences, the motive of His actions, the design of His visitations? Shall I ever be able to clasp the sun in my fist, and hold the universe in my palm? Yet these are as a drop of a bucket compared with the Lord my God. Let me not strive to understand the infinite, but spend my strength in love. What I cannot gain by intellect I can possess by affection, and let that suffice me. I cannot penetrate the heart of the sea, but I can enjoy the healthful breezes which sweep over its bosom, and I can sail over its blue waves with propitious winds. If I could enter the springs of the sea, the feat would serve no useful purpose either to myself or others, it would not save the sinking bark, or give back the drowned mariner to his weeping wife and children; neither would my solving deep mysteries avail me a single whit, for the least love to God, and the simplest act of obedience to Him, are better than the profoundest knowledge. My Lord, I leave the infinite to Thee, and pray Thee to put far from me such a love for the tree of knowledge as might keep me from the tree of life.” C.H. Spurgeon
He puts a stop to my proud thinking. He silences my vain questions. It is a good thing, a very good thing to be quieted by His love.
Jesus said, "I AM the door."
Monday, 5 October 2009
Friday, 2 October 2009
divine intervention
"God, Who has called you into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, is faithful." 1 Corinthians 1:9
Sometimes, I am just so appalled at my own stupidity. But then again, it should come as no shock. After all, God likening me to sheep wasn't exactly a compliment. Rather it is a reality. What a fitting metaphor, you see. We, like sheep, go astray, leaving the pastures of peace for vain adventures. We are so foolish as to swap the perfect protection and provision of the Shepherd, for loneliness and fear. We are so silly as to starve ourselves of His all-sufficient love. But the beautiful thing is that God, the Great Shepherd, is in the business of seeking and saving lost sheep.
In our helpless state, He intervenes. Because of His great mercy, we are not consumed. I am no longer dead. I am no longer damned. This orphan has been adopted! He has redeemed my life from the pit. Not I, but He!
Salvation is from Him. Let me not forget it. That way, He gets all the glory, as He deserves. I have no righteousness to claim, except for that which He gives to me because of His Son, Jesus Christ. I have nothing to boast in, but the grace of God. The Gospel renders me dependent on Him. Does not 1 Corinthians 1:9 scream of our dependence? I am but the recipient of His call. He brought me to Himself, when I did not seek Him. He loved me, when I did not love Him. He keeps me, though I falter.
Therefore, it is only logical that this dependence should manifest itself in desperation. Just as I was unable to save myself, I am likewise incapable of growth, apart from the True Vine. And so, it is the 'is faithful' part of this verse where I breathe a huge sigh of relief. He will not abandon the work He has begun in me. I am confident of this, that "He Who began a work in me will complete it."
And just in case, we still don't understand, the Lord repeats tHis promise in 1 Thessalonians 5:24. "The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it." I think He is trying to get something across here, don't you? He is a patient Rabbi. Let me be a better student.
Sometimes, I am just so appalled at my own stupidity. But then again, it should come as no shock. After all, God likening me to sheep wasn't exactly a compliment. Rather it is a reality. What a fitting metaphor, you see. We, like sheep, go astray, leaving the pastures of peace for vain adventures. We are so foolish as to swap the perfect protection and provision of the Shepherd, for loneliness and fear. We are so silly as to starve ourselves of His all-sufficient love. But the beautiful thing is that God, the Great Shepherd, is in the business of seeking and saving lost sheep.
In our helpless state, He intervenes. Because of His great mercy, we are not consumed. I am no longer dead. I am no longer damned. This orphan has been adopted! He has redeemed my life from the pit. Not I, but He!
Salvation is from Him. Let me not forget it. That way, He gets all the glory, as He deserves. I have no righteousness to claim, except for that which He gives to me because of His Son, Jesus Christ. I have nothing to boast in, but the grace of God. The Gospel renders me dependent on Him. Does not 1 Corinthians 1:9 scream of our dependence? I am but the recipient of His call. He brought me to Himself, when I did not seek Him. He loved me, when I did not love Him. He keeps me, though I falter.
Therefore, it is only logical that this dependence should manifest itself in desperation. Just as I was unable to save myself, I am likewise incapable of growth, apart from the True Vine. And so, it is the 'is faithful' part of this verse where I breathe a huge sigh of relief. He will not abandon the work He has begun in me. I am confident of this, that "He Who began a work in me will complete it."
And just in case, we still don't understand, the Lord repeats tHis promise in 1 Thessalonians 5:24. "The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it." I think He is trying to get something across here, don't you? He is a patient Rabbi. Let me be a better student.
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