The Marvel of God's Providence
We come to sweet contentment when we develop a right understanding of God's providence.
1. His providence is universal and extends to every little detail of life. It brings great comfort to know that everything that befalls us has the stamp of God's sovereignty upon it and nothing is out of His control.
2. His providence is a strong effectual power that would accomplish its course and will not be altered just because it goes against our will. Knowing that God’s providence is not a weak will that gets shaken by our complaints, but will work powerfully towards its appointed end, we learn to be quiet and submissive.
3. His providence is the manifestation of His infinite wisdom in working all things together for a united purpose. We will be awed by the majesty of God to see that God's providence in so many things are not working in isolation, but like so many wheels that are rotating in dependence of one another, He causes so many things to be dependent on one another and yet there is a grand design behind them all. We will do well to remember that when we are crossed by one particular instance of God's providence and we murmur against it, we are actually going against Him in many other thousand things He purposes to bring to pass.
Many people have no peace in God's providence because they are stranger to God's ways. When we enter the house of a stranger we might feel discomfort with a lot of things we see but when we get to know the person well as a good friend we can relax in his house. We can rest in His providence if we are acquainted with His ways.
What then are God's ways?
1. It is God's will to subject humanity universally to trials and afflictions that they might learn what is profitable for their souls. When we understand this, we do not question much when such and such befalls us but take it as a matter of fact, as the natural course in a human’s life.
2. God often brings the greatest mercy out of the greatest afflictions. Godly hearts can come to this understanding by faith and hence find the comfort and courage to face whatever they go through. Therefore instead of thinking that God has forsaken them, they will thank God for the trials that are forerunners of the promised future glory.
3. The mystery of God's wisdom is contained in paradoxes. God brings everything out of nothing in His work of creation. So He reveals Himself as the Creator. But God brings the greatest good out of the greatest evil in His work of salvation. Thus He reveals Himself as the Savior. He not only overcomes evil, but far beyond that He makes evil work towards good. So He brings joy out of sorrow, life out of death, prosperity out of adversity, and yes, sin for the furtherance of His grace. This is the art of arts, the knowledge of all knowledge, the wisdom of all wisdom, which commands our submission, worship and praise. Alas, very few people understand this and hence are not able to give God His due glory and vex themselves with a lot of unnecessary troubles. But God grants the mercy of His revelation to the godly hearts so that they can see God's wisdom in their sufferings and understand and enjoy deeper the true meaning of life.
1. His providence is universal and extends to every little detail of life. It brings great comfort to know that everything that befalls us has the stamp of God's sovereignty upon it and nothing is out of His control.
2. His providence is a strong effectual power that would accomplish its course and will not be altered just because it goes against our will. Knowing that God’s providence is not a weak will that gets shaken by our complaints, but will work powerfully towards its appointed end, we learn to be quiet and submissive.
3. His providence is the manifestation of His infinite wisdom in working all things together for a united purpose. We will be awed by the majesty of God to see that God's providence in so many things are not working in isolation, but like so many wheels that are rotating in dependence of one another, He causes so many things to be dependent on one another and yet there is a grand design behind them all. We will do well to remember that when we are crossed by one particular instance of God's providence and we murmur against it, we are actually going against Him in many other thousand things He purposes to bring to pass.
Many people have no peace in God's providence because they are stranger to God's ways. When we enter the house of a stranger we might feel discomfort with a lot of things we see but when we get to know the person well as a good friend we can relax in his house. We can rest in His providence if we are acquainted with His ways.
What then are God's ways?
1. It is God's will to subject humanity universally to trials and afflictions that they might learn what is profitable for their souls. When we understand this, we do not question much when such and such befalls us but take it as a matter of fact, as the natural course in a human’s life.
2. God often brings the greatest mercy out of the greatest afflictions. Godly hearts can come to this understanding by faith and hence find the comfort and courage to face whatever they go through. Therefore instead of thinking that God has forsaken them, they will thank God for the trials that are forerunners of the promised future glory.
3. The mystery of God's wisdom is contained in paradoxes. God brings everything out of nothing in His work of creation. So He reveals Himself as the Creator. But God brings the greatest good out of the greatest evil in His work of salvation. Thus He reveals Himself as the Savior. He not only overcomes evil, but far beyond that He makes evil work towards good. So He brings joy out of sorrow, life out of death, prosperity out of adversity, and yes, sin for the furtherance of His grace. This is the art of arts, the knowledge of all knowledge, the wisdom of all wisdom, which commands our submission, worship and praise. Alas, very few people understand this and hence are not able to give God His due glory and vex themselves with a lot of unnecessary troubles. But God grants the mercy of His revelation to the godly hearts so that they can see God's wisdom in their sufferings and understand and enjoy deeper the true meaning of life.
posted by Mejlina Tjoa @ 1:25 PM
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