Today's post is written by Roy Summers, pastor, Manor Park Church, Worcester
I wish I had a stronger Faith in the Sovereignity of God
A friend of mine was passing through a deep personal crisis of confidence: he could not believe that anything he did was good, or at least good enough. Since I was both friend and pastor I tried to help him from the Scriptures. But he kept saying to me "I know the truth, I know the truth, but I just can't seem to take hold of it and believe it."
There is often a gulf between what we know to be true and what we believe to be true, a gulf between head knowledge and heart knowledge.
Head knowledge can be picked up from a book of doctrine, but heart knowledge can only be picked up in the school of life. As we walk with our gracious Lord, year by year and decade by decade and discover his total faithfulness in everything, faith increases...
....most of the time.
There remains for most believers one little blemish on the garment of faith that never seems to wash away. It's when trouble comes our way. At moments of trial the pendulum so easily moves to fear and unbelief rather than to faith and calm repose.
And so I say, and perhaps you with me, I wish I had a stronger faith in the Sovereignity of God.
The Sovereinity of God
The soverignity of God means what it says. God is King. He is the Sovereign ruler of the universe, which includes my country, my church, my family and my life. Nothing happens anywhere without the express will or permission of God.
Nothing happens in your life or mine without the agreement of the Lord - and his ways are always Good.
In the life of Joseph this meant that his father's unwise favouritism towards him, his brothers jealous and bitter hatred, his being sold as a slave, his unjust treatment at the hands of Potiphar - or should we say Potiphar's wife, his two years of being overlooked in prison, were all in God's sovereign control: the Lord allowed every single one of them. And he allowed them for Good.
God meant it for good
Our memory verse for today is Genesis 50:20:
"You intended to harm me, but God meant it for good."
The next part explains why all the injustices were good, "to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."
You see if Joseph hadn't passed through all of his sufferings, he would not have ended up in the Palace of the King, where he could interpret dreams and save up grain in years of plenty, for years of famine.
His sufferings saved his family - and a thousand other families too.
The Good of Others
Herein lies a major reason for personal suffering, so often it is for the benefit of others. If only we could grasp this, rather than selfishly wallowing in our personal sorrow. It's for others, for others, for others!
We should know that off by heart!
The Son of God did not suffer for his good, but for the good of others. Death in him, life in others. The seed died to bear forth fruit.
Memorize this verse and ask the Holy Spirit to take it from head to heart.
"You intended to harm me, but God meant it for good."
(Genesis 50:20)
Summing it all Up
What "bad thing" troubles you today? Can you believe that God means it for good? You may not see that good - although perhaps it is time you began looking?! Joseph had reflected deeply on his sorrows and had seen the good purposes of God. That's why he could say our memory verse of the day.
Ask the Lord for the faith to believe that as strange as it may seem, that bad thing will turn out for your good and for the good of others, and most of all for the glory and good of God's great and holy name.
A Song for the Day
I know it's an old hymn, but the words are wonderful. They remind us to rejoice at the sovereinity of God in our lives.
he reigns, and life and death are yours;
through earth and heaven one song shall ring,
'The Lord omnipotent is King!'
The Lord is King! lift up thy voice,
O earth, and all ye heavens, rejoice;
from world to world the joy shall ring,
'The Lord omnipotent is King!'
The Lord is King! who then shall dare
resist his will, distrust his care,
or murmur at his wise decrees,
or doubt his royal promises?
He reigns! ye saints, exalt your strains;
your God is King, your Father reigns;
and he is at the Father's side,
the Man of love, the Crucified.
he reigns, and life and death are yours;
through earth and heaven one song shall ring,
'The Lord omnipotent is King!'
Josiah Conder
You can sing along right HERE.
A Prayer for the Day
Our Sovereign Father in heaven,
Teach us to trust in your sovereign plans and power. We thank you that when all seemed lost to your disciples, at that very moment you were performing your greatest act of salvation, through the sacrifice of your Son.
Teach us that this is the way you so very often work. Your greatest works in our lives are rarely done in the sunshine of rose gardens, but in dark times and dungeons.
Comfort us in our sorrows that we might be assured of your good purposes for us, our families, our churches, and our nation. Help us to see and believe that you mean it for good.
Do this for the sake of your great name,
Amen.
Photo by Ingo Stiller on Unsplash
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