The Sovereign Will of God

Sometimes God gives me the devotional early in the morning – sometimes even in my sleep. The message and Scripture are firmly planted in my heart. And sometimes I have to hunt around in my Bible a little before the Spirit highlights something. Today is one of those days.
This morning one verse jumped out at me – and the truth is, it has been jumping out at me for several weeks, but I didn’t realize this was the word until today. Maybe this is just the right time for this message for someone. Maybe me.
In the last chapter of Job’s saga, after 129 statements of His power and authority over creation, the Lord takes a breath, and Job, in humility says, “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2). I felt a nudge from the Spirit but I kept searching. A few pages over another verse sprang to life: “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord” (Prov. 21:30). And it all came together.
This is the word today: The Lord God is sovereign. What Job and Solomon said is that God has absolute authority over all things in heaven and earth, including human lives and human history. Yes, we have free will, but God has authority even still. I can’t explain how it works, but I know it does. And what God wills, man cannot break. Oh sure, we can run away or fight Him, but Jonah will tell you, in the end, His plan will prevail.
I count that as great news because God’s will is “good, pleasing, and perfect” (Rom 12:2) and His plan is “to give you hope and a future” (Jer 29:11). Here is where God’s sovereignty comforts me. God has a plan for my life, and satan and people are trying to stand in the way. But God. God will win the day. God will bring His plan to fruition. I know this because the enemy has tried to destroy God’s work in me, but the Lord has rescued me time after time and set me back in His will.
I don’t know who else needs this word today, but God clearly wanted you to hear it – He is the sovereign Lord of heaven and earth – and your life. Receive it and believe it, Beloved. If you are in Christ, everything He declares for your life will succeed. His plan cannot be thwarted.

Acts: When the Lion Roars

Paul sits in confinement in a Roman barracks while evil things are stirring outside of the jail, things that will move Paul into God’s perfect plan. Please read Acts 23:12-35.
Paul’s young nephew overheard the Jews plotting to kill his uncle. They were so committed to their hatred that they vowed not to eat or drink until their wicked deed was done. They created a ruse to get their intended victim away from the safe confines of the barracks – and the chief priests and elders were in on it.
But the boy told Paul and the Roman commander of the conspiracy. Realizing that his own life rested on the safety of his prisoner – a Roman citizen no less – the commander intervened and ordered a large detachment of Roman soldiers to get Paul out of Jerusalem. He appealed to Governor Felix who was in Caesarea on Paul’s behalf and they whisked him away in the night. Paul was kept secure in Herod’s palace until a trial could be convened.
Every time I read this account, I picture the angels of heaven and the demons of hell in a cosmic clash of epic proportions. I’ve been in the middle of those a few times –when good and evil are battling just over my head. That’s not saying I am good and an evil person is at war with me. That means God’s purpose for my life, or the life of someone I love is under spiritual attack. The battle over Paul was the devil’s attempt to squash God’s most prolific evangelist – and the spread of the gospel.
In His last message to His disciples, Jesus said, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first” (Jn 15:18).
Every time I stepped out in obedience to the Lord – to teach, speak, write, go to seminary, or fight for the soul of someone I love – the devil set me in his crosshairs and started shooting. I have heard His wicked voice in my ear and felt his hot breath on the back of my neck. Do you know what that means? I am right where God wants me to be.
The Scripture says, “[the devil] is filled with fury because he knows that his time is short” (Rev. 12:12). If that was true two thousand-plus years ago, it is more so today. He is “a roaring lion” (1 Pet 5:8). and he roars loudest at those who threaten his wicked kingdom. If the enemy is breathing down your neck trust that the Lord and his angels are breathing down his – and you, Beloved, are in the sweet spot of God’s will.

On Earth as it is in Heaven

I’ve been in many worship services where “The Lord’s Prayer” is recited by the congregation. One part always makes me want to shout, “Wait! Do you understand what you’re saying? Is this really your heart’s desire?”
“Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Mtt 6:10).
Have you ever stopped to think about what that means and why Jesus included it in His model prayer?
I believe Jesus wanted us to recognize Him as King and His rule as sovereign. The king’s will is the law of the land he governs. God – Jesus – is Creator and King of the entire universe – He governs the heavens which includes the angels and the earth which includes human beings. In heaven, His will is the absolute priority of every celestial creature. When we repeat this prayer we are saying the same of ourselves, that His will is our absolute priority, that we have no other will except His.
The question of God’s will has been a constant theme for generations. We want to know God’s will for our lives, but this verse invites us to look for the bigger picture and how we fit into it. While God does have a will – a plan and purpose – for our individual lives, that will is encompassed by the greater will of God: to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under the sovereign authority of Christ (Eph

1:10). The ultimate purpose of all existence is the Lordship of Christ Jesus. God’s plan was firmly fixed from before time began. All of human history has been moving toward one result: the coronation of Jesus Christ as the King of kings with “authority, glory and sovereign power, everlasting dominion, and a kingdom that will never be destroyed” (Dan 7:13-14).
So when we pray “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, we are surrendering our will to the will of God and committing to being part of ushering in the Kingdom of God and Christ. Like the angels in heaven, we are swearing our total allegiance to the authority and rule of the only rightful Ruler of the universe. This is God’s will for your life. He created you to be part of His eternal kingdom. Beloved, as you consider the words of this prayer, ask yourself, “What would the world, my neighborhood, my home, church, and workplace look like if God’s will was done on earth as it is in heaven – in me?”

God’s Will

We have all wondered, “What is God’s will for my life?”  It’s a good question but there is a bigger plan in place than just your life and mine. First, let’s widen the scope.

Paul said God’s will, “is “to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ” (Eph 1:9, 10). We get a glimpse of that in Daniel’s heavenly vision of the coronation of “the Ancient of Days” (Dan 7:9-10). The big picture of God’s will for all creation is the sovereign rule of His Son.

Now let’s scale this back to a more personal level. What is God’s will for you and me? That depends on where we are in relationship with Him. God has a will for His redeemed children and He has a will for those who are not His children.  Paul told the Athenians that God works in the lives of people “so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him” (Acts 17:27). Everything that God does in the life of an unbeliever is designed to draw his attention to his Creator. God never meant for man to blindly stumble through life and hopefully trip over Him. He acts with purpose and intention in every circumstance, even down to “the times set for them and the exact places where they should live” (v. 26).

When the unbeliever becomes a believer God’s will sharpens – and often so do His methods. Paul declared that God’s purpose for every believer is “to be conformed to the likeness of His Son” (Rom 8:29). That is His “good, pleasing, and perfect will (Rom 12:2). That is what everything after conversion is working toward – to make you like Jesus.

Does that mean God doesn’t have an individual purpose for you? Not at all. God gives His children gifts and talents to serve Him and the church. Your love of music or art or your natural giftedness with children point you to His purpose for you. I have loved words and writing since I was a little girl because God’s will for me is to be a writer and He gave me a big mouth because He wanted me to be a teacher.

Whoever you are, wherever you are, God’s will is that you will be His child, reflecting Jesus in the world, and be part of the heavenly crowd at His Son’s coronation. Everything is working toward that end. Because that, Beloved, is what your life is all about.

The Path of my Life

I have several verses that I consider my “life verses.” One of them comes to mind today: “You have made known to me the path of life” (Psalm 16:11). I’m looking at the path of my life and remembering this day 5 years ago, my first day at work at The Baptist College of Florida. It was not just a job, but my dream job – where my two passions – Jesus and learning – come together. But getting here wasn’t easy. The preceding months had been so hard, with devastating twists. Job loss and health struggles were God’s tools directing us back home. God literally opened the door to this house, just a few miles from what would be the best job I’ve ever had.

It seemed so chaotic at the time, but I see His hand all over it now.

When I widen my scope out a bit I see that Theology degree I got at seminary – the one I was told had no practical purpose to it – was one of the things on my resume that drew the Dean’s attention. My job involves working with the Theology Division. And the fact that I did it all online was another plus, as the school’s online students are now more than 50% of their enrollment.

I look again and I see that a season of loving and ministering to college students gave me yet another point of connection.  And thirty years of serving in Church administration gave me the skills and experience that are a good fit for this position. I could go back even farther and I’m sure I will find His hand more and more. God has been at work my whole life to bring me here. And He’s not through yet.

All these things seemed unrelated in the long journey of my life. But God saw them all as means to a purpose. As training for His plan. The same is true for you Beloved. Your life has not been a haphazard series of experiences, of jobs, of school, of people. God has had a plan and everything – every single thing – has been working toward His goal. Even the hard things. Especially the hard things. Ask Joseph. Ask Ruth. Ask David. Ask me. Those twists and turns are God moving you into His good, pleasing, and perfect will. He loves you. You can trust Him, Beloved. Your life is coming together just as He planned.

Tools in the Master’s Hands

Charles Stanley said, “No matter where affliction originates, who is involved, or how evil their intentions, by the time it reaches you, it’s been dipped in the Father’s love and shaped to accomplish His good purpose.” I believe that is true to the core of my being. I’ve witnessed it. I’ve lived it. And I’ve seen it over and over in Scripture.  It’s what Paul meant when he wrote, “We know that in all things [and that includes people] God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Rom 8:28).

I’ve had – and still have – some difficult people in my life and they’ve done some hard things to me. I have several tender wounds and aches from the pain they have caused. I still have scars on my heart and my body from them. But so do you. What are we to do with the ones who caused them?

I always turn to the account of Joseph, the great-grandson of Abraham and the favorite son of Jacob.  His brothers were jealous of him and they sold him into slavery where he was falsely accused of rape and forgotten in prison for years. Until he was called up to interpret the king’s dream and was promoted to the second-highest position in the land of Egypt. From there he rescued those same brothers from starvation. Including his brother Judah, through whom the Savior of the world would come. My Savior and your Savior.  Joseph told his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good . . .” (Gen 50:20).

Like Dr. Stanley, I am convinced that God uses the pain others bring to our lives to shape and mold us for His purpose. I often call these difficult folks “sandpaper people” because God often uses them to sand away things about me that would interfere with His plan – like selfishness, judgment, impatience, anger, and arrogance. They become tools in His wise hands.

I don’t know who’s “rubbing you the wrong way” – it may be a coworker and classmate, a neighbor, or even (often) a family member. But I know that God is the one holding the sanding block. I know that He is applying their grit to specific places in your life that don’t look or act or sound like Jesus. That’s the Father’s good purpose – to conform you to the likeness of His Son (Rom 8:29). You can trust the Master Craftsman, Beloved. Those tools are in good hands.

Thy Will Be Done

How many times have you prayed the Lord’s Prayer and said “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”? Have you ever stopped to think about what that really means and why Jesus included it in His model prayer? You can be sure it is not there to give the prayer rhythm. It is there to remind us that the will of God is supreme. It must be our highest priority as His people.

The question of God’s will has been a constant theme in Christendom for thousands of years. We all want to know God’s will for our lives, we want to do what we were created to do. Isn’t that what Ephesians 2:10 says? “We are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” That’s not at all a bad thing, but Jesus’ prayer invites us to look for the bigger picture and how we fit into it. While God does have a will – a plan and purpose – for our individual lives, that will is encompassed by the greater will of God: to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under the sovereign authority of Christ (see Ephesians 1:10). This is the fulfillment of the times—the ultimate purpose of all existence is the Lordship of Christ Jesus. God’s plan was firmly fixed from before time began. Understand that God isn’t making decisions and altering events as they unfold. All of human history has been moving toward one result: the coronation of Jesus Christ as the King of kings with “authority, glory and sovereign power, everlasting dominion, and a kingdom that will never be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13-14).

So when we pray “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” we are surrendering our will to the will of God and committing to be part of ushering in the Kingdom of God and Christ. Like the angels in heaven, we are swearing our total allegiance to the authority and rule of the only rightful Ruler of the universe. This is God’s will for your life. He created you with so much more in mind than you can conceive. He created you to be part of His eternal kingdom. Beloved, as you consider the words of this prayer, ask yourself, “What would the world look like if God’s will were done on earth through me?”

One-Word Prayer

There is a page in my prayer journal with a one-word entry. It just says “Father.” That’s all I could manage. The pain and anxiety are deep and heavy in this season and this word nerd, Bible teacher, writer sometimes can’t find the words to convey what’s on my heart. I know I am not alone. I read your posts. I hear your sighs. And so does your Heavenly Father.

A dear friend reminded me recently of Romans 8:26-27: “The Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.”

These verses are such a balm to my overwhelmed heart. When I cannot find the words, the Spirit is praying to the Father for me. He knows what’s on my heart, and even more importantly, He knows the Father’s heart. He knows the Father’s will in my situation and He prays to that end. The Greek word used here for “groans” comes from the root word meaning “narrow.” Picture it: the Spirit takes the jumbled, swirling cacophony of voices and hurts and issues and concerns and worries and anxieties and narrows them down to the core – and He takes that to the Father. It reminds me of when my mom would untangle the mess I made with my yarn, carefully working it through the wadded-up ball until she released the one loose end that freed the rest. The Spirit is our own personal interpreter, taking this gibberish language that we speak and translating it into the language of God’s perfect wisdom. And all the while He is speaking back into my heart the words of the Father – words of compassion, tenderness, encouragement, and hope. You know what this tells me? I don’t have to have the right words or to wax eloquent in speaking to my Father. God just wants me to tell Him whatever is on my heart in whatever way it comes out and then trust the Spirit to sift through it all and take the heart of my heart before the Father.

What’s on your heart today, Beloved? God is listening. Even if all that comes out is His Name – it is enough.

Acts: Proclaim the Gospel

In our last Acts lesson, we left the apostles in jail for ministering and preaching in Jesus’ name. At least that was the “party line.” But the real reason was “jealousy” (v. 17). The apostles had become very popular and the religious authorities felt threatened. This would be a good place to stop and read today’s text: Acts 5:17-42.

During the night an angel “opened the doors of the jail and brought them out” and told them to keep proclaiming the gospel. They were back in the temple courts at the first light of day (vs. 19-21). When the Sanhedrin met to question them, they were shocked to find the jail empty and the men “standing in the temple courts teaching the people” (v. 25). They were again brought before the Jewish leadership, albeit more gently out of fear of the people.

The Sanhedrin reminded them of their orders to refrain from teaching in the name of Jesus but Peter boldly declared “We must obey God rather than men.” (v. 29). He pointed the finger directly at the Jewish council as the perpetrators of Jesus’ murder and proclaimed the Lord’s resurrection and exaltation to the right hand of the Father. They were naturally furious and wanted them executed. But one Pharisee – Gamaliel – wisely advised caution saying “If [this] is from God you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God” (v. 39).

The culture today, particularly where I live in the U.S., is turning decidedly away from God. The message of the Bible is not welcome and is considered “hate speech.” How the gospel can be called hateful is beyond me – it is the greatest show of divine love in human history. The gospel declares the mercy of God towards sinful creatures who are rightly condemned for their corrupt state.

The apostles refused to back down, even after they were flogged. They “rejoiced because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name” (v. 41). They “never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ” (v. 42). So must we. The gospel is God’s message and it is unstoppable. It will offend some, but it will also save some. Maybe someone you love. Never stop declaring the good news of Jesus Christ. Eternity is at stake. Beloved, tell somebody about Jesus today.

Hebrews: Be Faithful

The Bible is the perfect, infallible Word of God. It is complete and lacks nothing. But we’re going to add something. Hear me out before you hang me as a heretic.

For several weeks now, we’ve been studying the Hall of Faith in Hebrews, the stories of men and women whom God found faithful. I hope it has been as rich and encouraging to you as it has been to me.  But here’s my question: did faith end with these ancient saints? Is there room for your name and mine on this list?

Maybe we haven’t built a massive boat or nearly sacrificed our children or led two million plus people out of slavery. I suspect none of us have witnessed the seas part or shouted down a stone wall or defeated your nation’s enemy with a sling and a stone. I don’t believe we’ve faced off against hungry lions or walked out of a fiery furnace. But that doesn’t mean we haven’t been faithful.

If you’ve trusted God in hard circumstances, you’ve been faithful. If you endured insults for being a Christian, you have been faithful. If you have resisted temptation or been truthful when a lie would have been easier, you have been faithful. If you’ve wept on your knees and got up and pressed on, you, my friend, have been faithful. If you’ve been gentle in the face of anger or loved the one who hated you, or been patient with the grown kid who keeps failing over and over, you have been faithful. If you’ve kept at your calling, even if no one else notices, you are faithful. If you’ve walked into unknown territory because God said go, if you’ve gone the extra mile (or several miles) – you’ve been faithful. If you have looked into an empty pantry or an empty gas tank and said, “God I will trust you to provide” – there’s no doubt you are faithful. If you’ve gotten up early to spend time in the Word and prayer – you have been faithful.

I want you to do something this morning. Open up your Bible to the end of Hebrews 11 and write (yes, it’s okay to write in your Bible) “By faith (your name) . . . ” then ask Him how you have been faithful and how you can be even more so. Beloved, it’s time to add our names to the Hall of Faith and continue the legacy of God’s faithful people.