"Providential Story"
12/13/2014
First From Julie's Keyboard:
The Need For Wisdom
Proverbs 12:8 "A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised."
Proverbs 13:3 "He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction."
We read passages such as the above which cause us to realize the importance of the Wisdom of the Lord in our lives. Maybe we struggle with decisions in our day, or maybe we need some right counsel to give a loved one in the given moment, or maybe we just want to discern more of the great truth that the Lord has for us. In any situation, we can go to His promise for giving wisdom to those who seek.
In the book of James, we find him telling the brethren of the 12 tribes how to get wisdom when they are found lacking.
James 1:5,6 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed."
True wisdom is from above. We're warned of the wisdom of this world and its snares. According to text found of the apostle Paul, the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God (ref. I Cor. 3:19) and so is the wisdom of God to this world (I Cor. 1:18).
We simply must remember that "Man's highest intellect can never receive one spiritual apprehension." (Charles Bridges) Also, "it is generally found, that those who have the most discourse have the least knowledge. WORDS ARE TOO OFTEN THE SUBSTITUTE FOR THINKING, RATHER THAN THE MEDIUM OF THOUGHT. In the use of them, men think they know their own wisdom. But how few comparatively know their own foolishness!" (Charles Bridges)
For a simple reminder today, the Proverbs states in 9:10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding."
Those seeming fitly words that we would speak, should all be checked by the counsel of His Word. Therein will we find the security to proclaim His wonderful truth.
May we seek Him while He may be found,
Julie
_____________________________
"Providential Story"
The Need For Wisdom
Proverbs 12:8 "A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised."
Proverbs 13:3 "He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction."
We read passages such as the above which cause us to realize the importance of the Wisdom of the Lord in our lives. Maybe we struggle with decisions in our day, or maybe we need some right counsel to give a loved one in the given moment, or maybe we just want to discern more of the great truth that the Lord has for us. In any situation, we can go to His promise for giving wisdom to those who seek.
In the book of James, we find him telling the brethren of the 12 tribes how to get wisdom when they are found lacking.
James 1:5,6 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed."
True wisdom is from above. We're warned of the wisdom of this world and its snares. According to text found of the apostle Paul, the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God (ref. I Cor. 3:19) and so is the wisdom of God to this world (I Cor. 1:18).
We simply must remember that "Man's highest intellect can never receive one spiritual apprehension." (Charles Bridges) Also, "it is generally found, that those who have the most discourse have the least knowledge. WORDS ARE TOO OFTEN THE SUBSTITUTE FOR THINKING, RATHER THAN THE MEDIUM OF THOUGHT. In the use of them, men think they know their own wisdom. But how few comparatively know their own foolishness!" (Charles Bridges)
For a simple reminder today, the Proverbs states in 9:10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding."
Those seeming fitly words that we would speak, should all be checked by the counsel of His Word. Therein will we find the security to proclaim His wonderful truth.
May we seek Him while He may be found,
Julie
_____________________________
"Providential Story"
Who doesn't like a good story? Whether it is someone telling us a verbal story, reading a novel, or even watching a movie, we are captivated by the story. That is what History is all about, it's about the story. This time of the year much attention is drawn to the Christmas story, which I think is a good thing as it reminds us of a redeemer and our need for a Saviour.
The direction I want to take us today is our own Providential story. You see, as I grow in my reformed view of Scripture I am challenged to think more deeply about the Providence of God. It calls for a much larger view of God than I have ever envisioned in the past.
One cannot read very far in the Bible and think very deeply without the understanding that the story was no accident, but orchestrated by a great and mighty Being who is forming the story for His own purpose and Glory. I seemed somehow to miss that for years. I suppose I was thinking that God looked down over time and picked out the good stories that He could use to help us understand His purpose. But He did not pick, but formed and created in His Providence each and every story told.
In the Bible nations rise and nations fall, people live and people die, economics increase, and economics fall. Kings are lifted up and kings are brought down, people are rescued and people are destroyed. All of these things fall within the Providence of God.
The thoughts for the blog this week revolve around our Providential stories, which were provoked by a sermon I heard by Matthew Molesky. His sermon drew out attention to the Story of the Bible as it is lived out in each individual story that is recorded. You can listen to or watch it at
http://www.desiringgod.org/conference-messages/would-you-see-savor-and-love-jesus-look-at-the-book
It would come highly recommended by yours truly.
It would come highly recommended by yours truly.
The direction I want to take us today is our own Providential story. You see, as I grow in my reformed view of Scripture I am challenged to think more deeply about the Providence of God. It calls for a much larger view of God than I have ever envisioned in the past.
One cannot read very far in the Bible and think very deeply without the understanding that the story was no accident, but orchestrated by a great and mighty Being who is forming the story for His own purpose and Glory. I seemed somehow to miss that for years. I suppose I was thinking that God looked down over time and picked out the good stories that He could use to help us understand His purpose. But He did not pick, but formed and created in His Providence each and every story told.
In the Bible nations rise and nations fall, people live and people die, economics increase, and economics fall. Kings are lifted up and kings are brought down, people are rescued and people are destroyed. All of these things fall within the Providence of God.
Before we go further, let's define the word Providence. To do so I want to turn to Mr. Webster and his 1828 edition of the English language.
3. In theology, the care and superintendence which God exercises over his creatures. He that acknowledges a creation and denies a providence, involves himself in a palpable contradiction; for the same power which caused a thing to exist is necessary to continue its existence. Some persons admit a general providence but deny a particular providence, not considering that a general providence consists of particulars. A belief in divine providence is a source of great consolation to good men. By divine providence is often understood God himself.
Now let's do a little thinking about that definition, from it we can come to the conclusion that the stories in the Bible were under God's care and superintendence as he formed and created the circumstances for His own plans and purposes. But the logic of that thinking carries us further, we are his creation also. Is He not so great that He governs only the important stories He wants in the Bible? Or is He so great as to govern every aspect of His Creation to the smallest detail? How great must the God of the Bible be? If He governs the important stories, must He not also govern the little ones, for all the little ones affect and form the so-called important ones.
America has a story, it has a beginning and an ending, how will it read? You and I have a story, a beginning and ending, how will it read? Is our individual story of one who served their self, their pleasures, one who took the good they did and kept them for their own glory, enjoying the praises of men for the good deeds they accomplished? Is it the story of one who acknowledges that the good they did was only possible by the grace and gift of God, they in themselves were only evil?
3. In theology, the care and superintendence which God exercises over his creatures. He that acknowledges a creation and denies a providence, involves himself in a palpable contradiction; for the same power which caused a thing to exist is necessary to continue its existence. Some persons admit a general providence but deny a particular providence, not considering that a general providence consists of particulars. A belief in divine providence is a source of great consolation to good men. By divine providence is often understood God himself.
Now let's do a little thinking about that definition, from it we can come to the conclusion that the stories in the Bible were under God's care and superintendence as he formed and created the circumstances for His own plans and purposes. But the logic of that thinking carries us further, we are his creation also. Is He not so great that He governs only the important stories He wants in the Bible? Or is He so great as to govern every aspect of His Creation to the smallest detail? How great must the God of the Bible be? If He governs the important stories, must He not also govern the little ones, for all the little ones affect and form the so-called important ones.
America has a story, it has a beginning and an ending, how will it read? You and I have a story, a beginning and ending, how will it read? Is our individual story of one who served their self, their pleasures, one who took the good they did and kept them for their own glory, enjoying the praises of men for the good deeds they accomplished? Is it the story of one who acknowledges that the good they did was only possible by the grace and gift of God, they in themselves were only evil?
All of our stories have tragedy and triumph, can we see the Providence of God in our lives and trust Him in them? Our trust in Him is our compass to determine the direction our story is taking. It is my prayer for you that it be one of trust, and if so, you would uphold me with that same desire until the end. I placed the picture to the left here as it is a reminder of God's Providence in my own life. A part of the Story that is being told, as untold millions are being told throughout our world at this very moment. But this is my story, and I must trust in God's Providence as I walk each moment of it. This wonderful moment followed a great tragedy, must I not understand God's care and superintendence was watching and working in both to perform His good and perfect will and pleasure? If I may, let me close with a poem I think fits very well. And may the Grace of God be upon each and every one of you,
David
Its cost is above all that is sold
It cannot be redeemed with diamonds
It cannot be bought with gold
In infinity, it stands alone
A story yet to unfold
It takes a lifetime to be seen
This story which is to be told
True love has a price
The cost too high to measure
Of all in life to be seen
This is the greatest treasure
All creation could not pay the price
But to freely give is this love's greatest pleasure
It must be paid in full
This price I give to be with you
Each moment away from you is the talent that I pay
That is the cost that is so high
The moment away from you each day
This loves greatest treasure
Is the time spent within itself
Yet of this time it will give until there is nothing left
Of this time which it gives there is no greater pain
But of this time in which it lives, there is no greater gain
Price so great cost so high
In this love does God's Glory lie
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