Articles
Be Thankful
We can be so thankful for safety He gives us in addition to the many other blessings of the day.
Sometimes we fail to keep the Lord in the picture. What I mean is we get busy, or often think we can handle the situation ourselves and forget He should always be part of our lives -- in all situations, the good times as well as the more difficult ones. Remember, He is in control and always hears our prayers. When Paul told the Thessalonians to "PRAY WITHOUT CEASING" (1 Thessalonians 5:17) it might do us well to read the next verse: "..in everything give thanks for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
James gives us a strong exhortation in his letter, chapter 4. You might like to read verses 13 through 15. He reminds us of the brevity of life, the importance of living each day, and to always include God first.
"Instead you ought to say, "If the LORD WILLS, WE SHALL LIVE AND ALSO DO THIS OR THAT." (James 4:15) It is a good habit, I think, to use the expression, "if God wills" I will do this, or this will happen. After all, He is in control and has power over everything. His love for us is even beyond our thinking or ways. (Isaiah 55) The Apostle Paul set his mind on God and how important this was at all times. We find him with two of his close fellow-workers in Ephesus in Acts chapter 18.
"And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there. Now he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. And when they asked him to stay for a longer time, he did not consent, but taking leave of them and saying, "I will return to you again IF GOD WILLS," he set sail from Ephesus." (Acts 18:19-21)
"But I will come to you soon, IF THE LORD WILLS, and I shall find out, not the words of those who are arrogant, but their power. For the kingdom of God does not consist in words, but in power." (1 Corinthians 4:19,20)
"For I do not wish to see you now just in passing; for I hope to remain with you for some time, IF THE LORD PERMITS." (1 Corinthians 16:7)
"Therefore, leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings, and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgement. And this we shall do, IF GOD PERMITS." (Hebrews 6:1-3)
God's will ought to control our way of life. His will should be our aim and not our own. Jesus, we find, always did the Father's will when on earth. He left us a perfect example to follow, so our lives can imitate His as close as possible. One way we can do that is to always remember "IF THE LORD WILLS" needs to be on our minds and in our everyday lives.
Let us close this short message with something Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, as we call it.
"Not every one who says to Me, "Lord, Lord" will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who DOES THE WILL of My Father, who is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21)
As the New Testament writers teach us, we need to be thinking of God first. Always having on our minds, "HIS WILL AND NOT MINE" . Just as Jesus always did.
He has made it possible for us to know that will so we can be obedient to Him. Thank you for a bit of your day, and be safe.
Ross
