A Work in Progress
29/10/08 10:14 Filed in:Weekly
Devotional
This
week we will continue looking at the wisdom of God.
This again is from the work by Packer, Knowing God.
We saw last week that wisdom is not simply knowledge,
but the application of that knowledge. So lets delve
into the ideas of wisdom. What does Scripture teach
about God's wisdom? "His wisdom is profound, his
power is vast" (Job 12:13). "He is mighty in strength
and wisdom" (Job 36:5). He has "great power and
mighty strength...and his understanding no one can
fathom" (Is 40:26, 28). "Wisdom and power are his"
(Dan 2:20). And finally, "Now to him that is of power
to establish you according to my gospel...God only is
wise" (Rom 16:25, 27).
Okay, so Scripture teaches he has wisdom and power. Then how come I still hurt? How come I am still not happy? Doesnt it also say he is love? Shouldnt that mean in his wisdom and power he wants us to have a trouble-free life? This argument is often hurled at the Christian, a person concludes that anything painful or upsetting says either God doesnt know what is best or not able to give what is best. Either he lacks wisdom for what I want and think is best, or he lacks the power to give it. Therefore I cannot believe in a God or at least the Christian God. Such views of God are incorrect though. Why? Do you see the problem? Take a moment and find me a verse that shows Jesus, because he loves us, promising we wont suffer or have pain or loss? Let me know...
I woudl argue though that this view is not Scriptural. We have to understand what God is working towards. If he is all wise, knowing what is best and the best means to attain that end, then we have to figure out what that end is! I recently watched a movie that was interviewing students asking what God wants for them. Before I give you their repsonses, what do you think God wants for you? Stop and write out your answer. Ask, "God, what is it you have for me? What are you working towards in my life?" Got your anwswer? Now, look at your answer. Who is giving what to whom? Meaning, who is working and who is recieving? Who is at the center of the statement? Did you asnwer God wants me to be happy and have a good life? Say you did, who is the center of that statement? One student in the video answered that God wants her to get married and remain a virgin until then. Most of the other students said the above statement of being happy. Again I ask, who is the center of those statements? Who was the center of your statement?
While we could say yes God wants this girl to stay a virgin till she gets married. That is not his ultimate purpose for life and creation. God does want us to enjoy life. But for what end? Simply that, enjoyment? And so if this doesnt happen in our life who do we blame? Did we expect God would simply do this because after all he is love? In other words, "God's wisdom is not, and never was, pledged to keep a fallen world happy, or to make ungodliness comfortable." So, again, if we understand he has ultimate power and wisdom. And we are not the center of the story. Then what is his goal? What is he using his power and wisdom for? How about you try writing yourself what you think God's aim is, or what his purpose for this life is.
God is working in his own wisdom and with his own power for his purpose, that we should love and obey him. This will be God's glory. God works steadily to this goal and is drawing men and women to himself for this end. The center of all this is our Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior. He has saved us from the pain and suffereing we deserve, far greater than what we see here on earth. Because he did this we have a reason to love him and obey him. We love him because he rescued us from seomthing I think we dont fully comprehend...yet. Because of this we should out of love and thankfulness obey and want to obey. But he is also our Lord. As our King we must obey. So if Christ is central, and God's glory is central, then his wisdom and power is applied to that end. So that we would be drawn in to see the beauty of our King and Savior.
It will not be easy in the process of making us into the creation he sees us as, it will hurt, there will be loss. But, as Lewis says, the mason chips away at the giant piece of marble, shapeless and worthless, and in it he sees the ultimate end. Spend this week reminding yourself that while it may not seem God "knows" what’s best for my life, he is wise and powerful. Remind yourself he is at work to develop love and obedience to him in you. Next week we will go deeper into looking into our own lives as God is applying his wisdom. Read the story of Joseph and see how he could possibly say in Genesis 50:20 that God was working through the pain in Joseph's life to make him into the man he had become.
Okay, so Scripture teaches he has wisdom and power. Then how come I still hurt? How come I am still not happy? Doesnt it also say he is love? Shouldnt that mean in his wisdom and power he wants us to have a trouble-free life? This argument is often hurled at the Christian, a person concludes that anything painful or upsetting says either God doesnt know what is best or not able to give what is best. Either he lacks wisdom for what I want and think is best, or he lacks the power to give it. Therefore I cannot believe in a God or at least the Christian God. Such views of God are incorrect though. Why? Do you see the problem? Take a moment and find me a verse that shows Jesus, because he loves us, promising we wont suffer or have pain or loss? Let me know...
I woudl argue though that this view is not Scriptural. We have to understand what God is working towards. If he is all wise, knowing what is best and the best means to attain that end, then we have to figure out what that end is! I recently watched a movie that was interviewing students asking what God wants for them. Before I give you their repsonses, what do you think God wants for you? Stop and write out your answer. Ask, "God, what is it you have for me? What are you working towards in my life?" Got your anwswer? Now, look at your answer. Who is giving what to whom? Meaning, who is working and who is recieving? Who is at the center of the statement? Did you asnwer God wants me to be happy and have a good life? Say you did, who is the center of that statement? One student in the video answered that God wants her to get married and remain a virgin until then. Most of the other students said the above statement of being happy. Again I ask, who is the center of those statements? Who was the center of your statement?
While we could say yes God wants this girl to stay a virgin till she gets married. That is not his ultimate purpose for life and creation. God does want us to enjoy life. But for what end? Simply that, enjoyment? And so if this doesnt happen in our life who do we blame? Did we expect God would simply do this because after all he is love? In other words, "God's wisdom is not, and never was, pledged to keep a fallen world happy, or to make ungodliness comfortable." So, again, if we understand he has ultimate power and wisdom. And we are not the center of the story. Then what is his goal? What is he using his power and wisdom for? How about you try writing yourself what you think God's aim is, or what his purpose for this life is.
God is working in his own wisdom and with his own power for his purpose, that we should love and obey him. This will be God's glory. God works steadily to this goal and is drawing men and women to himself for this end. The center of all this is our Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior. He has saved us from the pain and suffereing we deserve, far greater than what we see here on earth. Because he did this we have a reason to love him and obey him. We love him because he rescued us from seomthing I think we dont fully comprehend...yet. Because of this we should out of love and thankfulness obey and want to obey. But he is also our Lord. As our King we must obey. So if Christ is central, and God's glory is central, then his wisdom and power is applied to that end. So that we would be drawn in to see the beauty of our King and Savior.
It will not be easy in the process of making us into the creation he sees us as, it will hurt, there will be loss. But, as Lewis says, the mason chips away at the giant piece of marble, shapeless and worthless, and in it he sees the ultimate end. Spend this week reminding yourself that while it may not seem God "knows" what’s best for my life, he is wise and powerful. Remind yourself he is at work to develop love and obedience to him in you. Next week we will go deeper into looking into our own lives as God is applying his wisdom. Read the story of Joseph and see how he could possibly say in Genesis 50:20 that God was working through the pain in Joseph's life to make him into the man he had become.
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