The Freedom of Gratitude

When we observe people of God making head-scratching decisions that are inconsistent with what they know to be true or right, know we are looking at a mirror image of ourselves.  Sure, our failings may not mirror the exact circumstances people experienced in the historical narrative, but we share the same weaknesses, are prone to spiritual dullness and have our own blind spots.  We wonder, how can people who saw the miracles God did to deliver them from slavery in Egypt murmur against Him in unbelief shortly thereafter?  Isn't it true that after coming to faith in Christ we too have complained of far less trying circumstances--despite our knowledge of what God has done and promised?

This inconsistency in people who fear God can be easily found throughout Scripture.  Peter spoke courageously in front of Jesus and the other disciples and even lashed out with a sword when Jesus was being arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Yet he wilted under the scrutiny of servants who identified as a disciples of Jesus as he warmed himself by the fire, trying in vain to shield himself with oaths and curses out of fear.  David did a similar thing.  He was bold fearless in the face of Goliath of Gath, a towering giant who hurled vicious insults that made the men of Israel run for cover.  Yet when he travelled to Gath while on the run from King Saul, he was afraid when he heard Philistines identify him as a famous warrior.  He feigned insanity before the people and the king to show he was not a threat, and it was God who graciously delivered him again from death--not Goliath's sword he carried.

This madness seen in Peter and David is as natural for us humans as living in our own skin.  We can neglect to consider the faithfulness of God in the past or presently as relevant to our current struggle.  The disciples who witnessed Jesus miraculously multiply five loaves and two fish to feed over 5,000 people at one time did not imagine the power of Jesus extended to causing a storm to cease by His word alone.  Jesus' power to do so as God was alluded to in Psalm 107:28-30:  "Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses. ²⁹ He calms the storm, so that its waves are still. ³⁰ Then they are glad because they are quiet; so He guides them to their desired haven."  Since God is able to stir up and calm a storm by His power, like the disciples we are guided to cry out to Him in turbulent times (whether in a boat, train or aeroplane) knowing He will hear and answer.

Four times in the song the psalmist burst forth with praise as recorded in Psalm 107:31:  "Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!"  It is one thing to keep the good things God has done for other people and us in mind, but we are to go further in giving God thanks for His goodness and wonderful works.  When our thanksgiving and gratitude for God's deliverance wanes because we are ungrateful, forgetful or distracted, Peter and David illustrate how we can gravitate to the snare of self-preservation rather than God's glorification.  It is good that we repent of our neglect to give thanks to God so we might learn to abide in Christ by faith, trusting He protects and provides perfect peace in all circumstances of life.

Sending and Sovereignty

Jonathan was a man who feared God and believed God was in control of situations that were out of his control.  When people say, "God is control," it is likely the details of their circumstances are different than others or could mean different things.  The overarching point Christians likely agree on is what the Bible plainly declares:  God rules over all, is good, and He can redeem all things together for our good.  We can find rest and comfort in knowing God is totally aware of our situation and that He is able to do everything necessary to accomplish His good purposes through it.

It is good for us to acknowledge God is all-knowing, all-powerful and a present help in time of trouble whose desire is to save rather than destroy.  This is not true, however, concerning people who may have authority over us.  After David become acutely aware of King Saul's intention to murder him, he confided in Jonathan who was a good friend and son of the king.  Jonathan was taken aback by the accusation as he expected his father to confide in him and assured him all was well between the king and David.  Having dodged a couple spears already, David was not convinced.

Together Jonathan and David hatched a plan to see what Saul's intentions were towards David.  David proposed he be absent from the king's table, and if Saul noticed Jonathan was to explain David had asked permission to visit his family.  If the king was satisfied and content with this revelation all was well, but if he became angry his fury would lay his murderous intentions bare.  Then it was decided how Jonathan would secretly convey the message to David, if he should stay or flee for his life.  While David hid in the field near a particular rock, Jonathan would go out with a lad to fetch arrows he shot.  1 Samuel 20:21b-22 reads, "...If I expressly say to him, 'Look, the arrows are on this side of you; get them and come'--then, as the LORD lives, there is safety for you and no harm. ²² But if I say thus to the young man, 'Look, the arrows are beyond you'--go your way, for the LORD has sent you away."

See how Jonathan viewed the exposure of the king's murderous plot as an act of God's grace, that God was sending David away rather than King Saul driving him away.  Being "sent" carries with it the idea of thought and purpose preceding definite action to accomplish the desire of the sender.  For me to successfully send a letter by the Australian Post, I need to place it in an addressed envelope, affix the stamp and drop it in a red postbox.  David's departure was not to be regretted, for it was God who sent him away for His good purposes:  to preserve David's life and ultimately to grant him the kingdom as his chosen, anointed king.  I love Jonathan's perspective in the midst of this difficult trial that saw his father angrily pitted against his dear friend, for he proclaimed the sovereignty of God in a situation completely out of his control.  It gives God glory when we do this--not blaming Him as if He is cruel or selfish--but knowing He has a good and glorious future for us in mind.

God's Strength Made Complete

Confidence in the goodness of God and His sovereignty is a key factor in us experiencing the rest and abundant life graciously offered by Jesus Christ.  Paul expressed great confidence all Christians ought to have in Romans 8:28:  "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."  Because God is almighty, a Redeemer and faithful, we are assured on the basis of His glorious deity His good purposes can be furthered in what we can only see as bad circumstances in this life.

Since God has revealed Himself to us in truth, having provided His Word and the Holy Spirit, we know one of His purposes is our sanctification:  for us to be set apart for Him and submit to being made more like Him continually in thought, word and deed.  Another purpose God has in saving us and adopting us into His family by the Gospel is to make us spiritually fruitful.  We have been created for the purpose of bringing glory to God, and Jesus said to His disciples in John 15:8, "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples."  Our LORD is not content with foliage or occasional fruit but that we would bear much fruit by the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells us.

In light of these things, I have arrived at conclusions I am convinced of and need to continue processing personally.  The very situation I see as bad and want God to change for the better is the very situation God can use to change me for the better.  The other person I want God to change is the person God can use to sanctify me further.  The conditions I suffer and pray for God to take from me can be used by God to make me more fruitful for His glory.  The process of sanctification God employs is gentle, timely (though it will take the remainder of our lives on earth) and perfectly weighted to accomplish His refining purposes--even when I shrink from His pruning shears or the heat of the crucible of affliction that refines believers as gold.

Knowing this to be true, we can arrive at the conclusion Paul after God rejected his request that the LORD would stop and silence the messenger of Satan who buffeted him.  Made courageous by faith in the living, good God, Paul shared in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10:  "And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."  In all our infirmities, God's strength is made perfect or complete in us by God's grace.  Our infirmities, diseases, disasters, pressures, and needs are made for us a potential delight, for in Christ we can enjoy His strength accomplishing in and through our lives incredible good we could never experience alone.

Strengthened Hearts

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."

Galatians 6:9

In preparing to preach on this passage, it occurred to me how the concept of sowing and reaping has been hijacked by some to convey a distorted, unbiblical teaching:  we can get what we want if we do our part.  I have heard some preachers urge their hearers to make a vow or donate money motivated by paying off bills and becoming more wealthy and prosperous.  Such seem to forget that what is reaped is different than the seed.  Money given to a church or ministry is no guarantee of money multiplying, but when it is done by obedience to God will result in bearing the spiritual fruit God intends--something priceless that money cannot buy.

The passage found in Hosea 10:12 shows what we sow differs from what is reaped:  "Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, till He comes and rains righteousness on you."  As children of God who have received God's word (which is compared to good seed in the Parable of the Sower), evidence that it has taken root in our hearts is that we believe it and seek to honour God by obedience to it.  We cannot say exactly how God will cause His word to be fruitful in our lives or in the lives of others, but we can know the living God who speaks is always at work to accomplish His good, refining and redemptive purposes.

Paul is not advocating a works-based relationship with God to earn passage to heaven or a kind of spiritual karma that gives us what we deserve or withholds what we have not rightly earned.  This would be a curse that would doom us all, for God's goodness His people receive is all by the riches of His grace.  Paul utilised the natural process of sowing and reaping to illustrate the very real consequences of sowing to the flesh or sowing to the Spirit.  Investing our efforts to satisfy sinful desires in our flesh will lead to ruin, whilst sowing to the Spirit by waiting on the LORD and obeying His word leads to abundant life in Christ.

It is wonderful to realise all we have to sow and whatever we reap is all by the grace of God and for His glory.  Sowing seed does not break the farmer's heart as if he is losing something precious because he looks toward the gain that will be enjoyed in the season of harvest.  If we treasure the LORD over what He has given us, we will be encouraged to present ourselves as living sacrifices to Him with all we have.  May our hearts join with the psalmist whose confidence was in the living God in Psalm 73:24-26:  "You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. ²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. ²⁶ My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."  When we consider God, all He has done and promised, combined with His presence within us, our hearts are strengthened to persevere until He calls us home.