Understanding of God's Providence6 [Jam 1:13-15] / Anne's Faith Column

 

               

New Zealand / West Side                     Moru

 

 

Understanding of

God's Providence6 

[Jam 1:13-15]

/ Anne's Faith Column

 

 

/ By Pastor Priscilla

 

When tempted,

no one should say,

"God is tempting me."

 

 

 

For God cannot be

tempted by evil,

nor does he tempt

anyone;

 

 

 

but each one is tempted

when, by his own evil desire,

he is dragged away and enticed.

 

 

 

Then, after desire has conceived,

it gives birth to sin; and sin,

when it is full-grown,

gives birth to death.

 (Jam 1:13-15)

 

 

The beginning of all

temptations and problems

mostly comes from

human's greed.

 

 

 

Led and tempted

by our own greed,

 

 

 

when our eyes get dark due

to the boasting of what

we have and do,

 

 

 

riches and honors,

and power... etc.

we tend to become

arrogant. 

 

 

 

The Bible says,

 

 

 

'Then, after desire has

conceived, it gives birth to sin;

and sin, when it is full-grown,

gives birth to death.'

 

 

 

The above

word of God is truth.

 

 

 

There is a castle that

has been closed

in each one of us.

 

 

 

It is a fortress that virtually

no one can invade, and

 the ego is firmly in the 

closed castle.

 

 

 

However, no matter how

impregnable it is, the

castle of the heart will

collapse immediately

 

 

 

when Jesus penetrates

through it with light.

 

 

 

At this time, let's think

about Jacob, who is

stubborn, too crafty,

 

 

 

and a clever person

in the Bible 

 

 

that means 'scammer'.

In terms of "God's

providence",

 

 

 

we get to know why 'Jacob' 

had such an absurd story

and situation,

 

 

and how he was trained

through his uncle 'Laban',

 

 

 

who was more greedy

and more clever than Jacob,

who had a lot of tricks.

 

 

 

It's not so hard to see

how God, who is just,

dealt with Jacob

 

 

who took his brother

Esau's birthright with

some lentil stew.

 

 

 

Eventually,  just as Jacob

who stubbornly wrestled

with an angel all night

 

 

 

at the Jabbok River without

surrendering until the socket

of his hip was wrenched,

 

 

 

our inner struggles with 

ourselves are constantly

going on between our

desire to obey the Lord

 and to assert ourselves.

 

 

 

We've accepted the Lord, 

but still stubbornly we're

not willing to give

'the ownership' to Him,

 

 

 

how many times have

we held out and wrestled

with the Lord

 

 

 

and eventually fallen

into a pit of despair

due to the bones of our

lives being wrenched?

 

 

 

Then what's the meaning

of the life led by the

providence of God?

 

 

 

First of all, we need to

realize the root of all these

temptations only comes

from ourselves,

 

 

 

and how important

our attitude toward the

temptations is.

   

 

 

On the other hand,

when we didn't know

God’s deep providence

 

 

 

and will, how many trials

and errors we have

committed in our own

lives in the past,

 

 

 

and how many absurd years

we had to spend meaninglessly.

 

 

 

Actually, in life, the

period of the big and small

trials and troubles

 

 

 

we've experienced

may be like only a few hours

from God's perspective.

 

 

 

Thus it's difficult to

understand God's providence,

 

 

 

but only when we trust in

and follow God, who transcends

human circumstances,

 

 

 

I'm sure we'll be able to

meet the Lord in the

field of our lives.

 

 

 

Here are two examples:

 

 

 

One is “George Muller,”

the father of an orphan

who received 50,000

answersto his prayers

 

 

 

and the other is 'Joseph'

who became Prime Minister

of Egypt after being trained.

 

 

 

Then what do we have to do

in life to understand God's

providence?

 

 

 

1) God will not let us

be tempted beyond

what we can bear.

 

 

 

But when we are tempted,

he will also provide a way out.

There's one thing we have

to remember:

 

 

 

Trust in God who

is a good solver.

 

 

 

Therefore our desirable

religious attitude is to give

more thanks to God,

 

 

 

who will let us be tempted

and trained in order to

 round off our corners.

 

 

 

2) We must watch what

we prefer over God, and 

whenever we are in spiritual

depression, arming ourselves

with the word of the Lord,

 

 

 

we need the will

and courage to get

 over our hard time.

 

 

 

3) To get out of trouble

and temptation in reality,

first of all, you must watch

God’s providence carefully.

 

 

 

We should all acknowledge

our responsibilities and

weaknesses, and we

must keep watch

 

 

 

and ask the Holy Spirit

for hope for learning

from our perfect God.

 

 

 

What's the purpose

of training by the

providence of God?

 

 

 

And also what are our

own roles in this earth?

For these, we must ask

God specifically.

 

 

 

If we always think about

God's providence in this way,

and in whatever circumstances,

 

 

 

if we are willing to receive

various temptations and training,

and also if we endure various

trouble coming up in our lives,

 

 

 

in all things God works

for the good of those

who love him.

 

 

 

Therefore, is there

anyone in misery?

 

 

 

Then don’t run away

 from the reality.

 

 

 

Don't be pessimistic

or discouraged.

Rather face it!

 

 

 

Furthermore, in order to

move us from absolute

despair to absolute hope,

the Lord came to this earth.

 

 

 

Let's move on with him,

praising and worshipping him.

 

 

 

The prophet Habakkuk says:

 

 

 

"Though the fig tree does not

bud and there are no grapes

on the vines,

 

 

 

though the olive crop

fails and the fields produce

 

 

 

no food, though there

are no sheep in the pen

and no cattle in the stalls,

1

 

 

yet I will rejoice in the LORD,

I will be joyful in God my Savior."

    (Hab 3:17-18)

 

 

 

Prayer

 

 

 

Thank you Lord!

We praise you for the

greatness of God's

 providence.

 

 

 

At this time

we acknowledge

the Lord's authority

and power.

 

 

 

Lead us to be more patient,

more delighted, and more

grateful even in trouble.

 

 

Amen

 

 

 

2008/12/14

 

 

/ By Priscilla