Divine Providence

The heart that loves God discerns Him busily at work in even the most heartbreaking and unwelcome happenings of life. All things are turning out for the best because God is at work in them, transmuting bane into blessing and tragedy into triumph. His operation is not always clearly discernible. Indeed it not infrequently seems that He is doing nothing. Carlyle, meditating on the enigmas of life, in the anguish of his heart said, "The worst of God is that He does nothing."

But God is often most active when all seems most still. The working of God in nature is unseen but nonetheless effective. Under His invisible control the stars maintain their predestined courses and the restless ocean keeps within its appointed limits. We should never, in impatience at the seeming inactivity of God, take things into our own hands and try to be our own Providence.

The daily happenings, whether tragic or joyous, are the raw material from which God is weaving the design of life. Introduce God into the events of life, and order emerges from chaos. He is too kind to do anything cruel, too wise ever to make a mistake. No conceivable circumstances could better prosper God's plan or further our highest good.

- J. Oswald Sanders, Spiritual Maturity 

God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don't understand
When you don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His heart

Having a Heart to Follow

Many think that the problem they face is that they don't know what to do. That is not the problem. Christians who say, "I don't know what to do" miss the point. The root problem is not that we don't know what to do; rather, the problem is that we don't do what we know!

If we do what we know, we will know what to do. And what we do know is that we must follow God.

- Edmund Chan, Growing Deep in Faith

Working for the Lord

When I speak publicly, I will often ask the audience, "If you are a full-time minister, please raise your hand." Normally I see only a small number of hands raised. Usually there are a few ministers in the audience who feel proud to raise their hands. I often call them out specifically and often ask for a round of applause. Like Isaiah was willing to heed the call, so they have been willing to be full-time in their commitment to Christian service.

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"" - Isaiah 6:8 (NIV)

We should honour our ministers. They have been willing to step forward; they have been willing to commit their lives and full-time professions to the presentation of the gospel.

Often there are a few who sense where I'm going when I ask the "full-time minister" question. I'll then read Colossians 3:23-24 and ask the question again. More hands rise. I'll then read it again and exhort them that if they are Christians, they have committed themselves to be 100 percent, full-time Christians in everything they do.

- Pat Gelsinger, The Juggling Act: Bringing Balance to Your Faith, Family, and Work

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." - Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)

Incidentally, Colossians 3:23-24 is my church's memory verse for the month on Feb. Perhaps it'll be my personal verse(s) of the year.

What is Love

Love is patient, love is kind.

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.

- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (NIV)

Wait and Obey

Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear. He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul's men began to scatter. So he said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings." And Saul offered up the burnt offering.

Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him. "What have you done?" asked Samuel. Saul replied, "When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Micmash, I thought, 'Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the Lord's favour.' So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering."

"You acted foolishly," Samuel said. "You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord's command."

Then Samuel left Gilgal and went up to Gibeah in Benjamin, and Saul counted the men who were with him. They numbered about six hundred.

- 1 Samuel 13:7-15 (NIV)

Why God Allows Evil

Some people criticise God (or those who believe in Him), saying, "A good God would eradicate evil."

My question for those folks is, "Okay, are you ready to be eradicated, since you - like me - are to some degree evil?"

Seriously, I'm glad that, although God will judge and wipe out evil, He's chosen not to yet, out of patience for us and for our friends (2 Peter 3:9).

- Mark Mittelberg, The Questions Christians Hope No One Will Ask