1Peter 2:13-17

¹³Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, ¹⁴or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. ¹⁵For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. ¹⁶Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. ¹⁷Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

This is a hard passage to swallow. We want to obey God, but we don’t want to submit to authority. We would rather cloak our rebellion to authority in righteous indignation. After all, why should we obey the wicked pagans just because they happen to be in a position of civil authority? Besides, we are smarter than them anyway, right? I know what’s best for me, and I shouldn’t have to submit to the bone heads in Washington, or Austin for that matter, or the city council, or the DPS officer who patrols my morning commute, or my boss, or the church leaders…

Like it or not, though, submission to human institutions and authorities is a vital aspect of obedience to God’s will. This offends our fallen nature, and so we reinterpret and rewrite scripture to suit our sinful desires. For me, it usually goes something like this:

¹³Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men (as long as I agree with them): whether to the king, as the supreme authority, ¹⁴or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those (other idiots) who do wrong and to commend those who do right (me). ¹⁵For it is God's will that by doing (what is right in my own eyes) good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. ¹⁶Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of (to be served by) God. ¹⁷Show proper respect to everyone (whom I like and deem not to be an idiot): Love the brotherhood of believers (as long as they are Dispensationist, Pro-life, Reformed, Southern Baptists who affirm the sanctity of marriage, premillennialist eschatology, progressive sanctification, cessationism, Calvinism, new earth creationism, substitutionary atonement, Christocentrism, natural hermeneutics, expository homiletics, and prefer acoustical guitars to organs) , fear (show mild reverence to) God, honor the king (if he is a Republican).

Scripture should change me, not vise versa.

Habakkuk: Enbracing God's Sovereignty

Habakkuk
35th Book of the Bible
Author: Habakkuk
Meaning: “to embrace”
Date: about 600 B.C.

The book of Habakkuk is an interesting an enlightening study on God’s sovereignty. The book begins with the prophet questioning God as to why evil, violence, and wickedness are so prevalent.

O LORD, how long shall I cry for help,
and you will not hear?
Or cry to you "Violence!"
and you will not save?
Why do you make me see iniquity,
and why do you idly look at wrong?
Destruction and violence are before me;
strife and contention arise.
So the law is paralyzed,
and justice never goes forth.
For the wicked surround the righteous;
so justice goes forth perverted. (1:2-4)

God answers the prophet by saying that He is performing a “work in your days
that you would not believe if told.” (1:5). God says that He will raise up the Chaldeans (a.k.a. the Babylonians) to judge the wickedness and injustice in Israel. The Chaldeans were a “fierce and impetuous people” whose “justice and authority originate with themselves” (1:6-7). They are dreaded and feared because they come for violence, and will “heap up rubble” and “capture cities.” They will conquer the kingdoms, and unknowingly facilitate God’s judgment on the lands.

In response the prophet asks how a Holy God can establish such an evil, idolatrous people for His divine purposes.

You who are of purer eyes than to see evil
and cannot look at wrong,
why do you idly look at traitors
and remain silent when the wicked swallows up
the man more righteous than he? (1:13)

The Lord answers and tells Habakkuk to write down the vision, for the appointed time had not yet come. God assures the prophet, however, that the vision “hastens toward its goal, and will not fail” (2:3).

Behold, as for the proud one,
His soul is not right within him;
But the righteous will live by his faith. (2:4)

The proud Chaldeans put their trust in their own strength, but their soul is not right. This is the mark that distinguishes the wicked from the righteous. The righteous will be preserved through their faith in God. Though the wicked Chaldeans might seem strong and persevering in this life, they will soon be overcome with woes. They will be overwhelmed with violence and will be filled with disgrace rather than honor. God assured Habakkuk that He will also judge the Chaldeans for their transgressions as well. This presents a theological dilemma. Can God ordain these idolatrous, wicked men to enact His judgment and them hold them responsible for their actions? This is a glimpse into the inner workings of God’s govern will. Through His providence, the Almighty directs the ways of men.

The mind of man plans his way,
But the LORD directs his steps. (Prov. 16:9)

This does not, however, absolve the personal responsibility for their sin. Ultimately, the Chaldeans were held responsible for their transgressions. Just as God hardened Pharaoh’s hard heart, He used the Chaldeans thirst for blood, violence, and power for His purposes, including their ultimate demise.

The LORD has made everything for its own purpose,
Even the wicked for the day of evil.
Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD;
Assuredly, he will not be unpunished. (Prov. 16:4-5)

God’s reply struck fear into the heart of Habakkuk (3:1). The prophet then pleads with God to remember mercy in the midst of His chastening. The prophet then begins a discourse outlining the awesome might and wonder of the Lord.

In indignation You marched through the earth;
In anger You trampled the nations.
You went forth for the salvation of Your people,
For the salvation of Your anointed
You struck the head of the house of the evil
To lay him open from thigh to neck. Selah. (3:12-13)

This reverent description of God painted Him as a mighty warrior whose hand is for justice and righteousness and opposing the wicked. Though the Chaldeans were fierce and dreadful, they were puny and insignificant compared to the Almighty God. His dominion is boundless and eternal. The prophet realized this and trusted in God and His sovereign will.

I heard and my inward parts trembled,
At the sound my lips quivered
Decay enters my bones,
And in my place I tremble
Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress,
For the people to arise who will invade us. (3:16)

Like Job, Habakkuk questioned God’s will. Job questioned God in the midst of sever suffering, and Habakkuk questioned Him in the shadow of impending disaster. Neither of them got a straightforward answer to their questions. Instead, they received something far more valuable. They received a revelation of God, His character, His eternal goodness, and His sovereignty. Habakkuk put his trust fully in God, and exults His great name. Though the fruit of the land and the temporal blessings of this life would soon be taken away and replaced with chastening, trials, and suffering, Habakkuk rejoiced in the God of salvation.

Though the fig tree should not blossom
And there be no fruit on the vines,
Though the yield of the olive should fail
And the fields produce no food,
Though the flock should be cut off from the fold
And there be no cattle in the stalls,
Yet I will exult in the LORD,
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.
The Lord GOD is my strength,
And He has made my feet like hinds' feet,
And makes me walk on my high places. (3:17-19)

for His glory,
DJ

God's Will & Line Dancing

When I was in grade school, one common activity in physical education class was line dancing. For those of you who didn’t grow up in rural Texas, line dancing is a “choreographed dance with a repeated sequence of steps in which a group of people dance in one or more lines or rows, all facing the same direction, and executing the steps at the same time.” This was a common occurrence during the Achy Breaky Heart era in American history. I know that it may be hard to believe, but I was not the most coordinated kid on the block. For whatever reason, I always seemed to miss a step at some point. I then spent the remainder of the song awkwardly trying to catch up and get back on the right step. I found that the key to successful line dancing was to never mess up, because one I did it was extremely difficult to get back on track. The chronological order of a line dance was such that each explicit dance move was connected to the previous on in a specific order. Miss one step and all of the following steps become out of sequence causing the whole dance to be wrong.

Many Christians erroneously view God’s will of direction as being similar to a line dance. The assumption is that god has specifically outlined each step in our lives. We must therefore try and figure out what He has ordained and follow that precise plan. For example, three major life changing decisions are what college to attend, what major to choose, and who to marry. The problem with this paradigm occurs when we miss God’s direction for one of these steps. I may mistakenly think I should go to A&M, but God may have planned for me to go to LU. This wrong choice leads me to choose the wrong major. And how can I meet the spouse that God has preordained for me if I am at A&M and she is at LU? The chain reaction continues and I miss God’s direction for my career, kids, location, church membership and so forth. I then spend the rest of my life jumping from one foot to the other trying to get back on the right step.

Fortunately God’s will doesn’t work this way.

God is a God of grace, forgiveness, and second (and third and fourth and fifth and…) chances. He does not have a hidden, mysterious plan that we must blindly follow with no guidance. He does not expect us to walk the tightrope of His will with a blindfold and no net. He does not expect us to wonder through the maze of life in a vain attempt to discover His unknown, particular will. I do believe that God has a game plan for us, missing one step along the way doesn’t necessarily derail the rest of your life. His will of direction is not independent of His sovereign decree. He himself knows our frame. He knows (knew) we will screw up. I am sure that He has accounted for that in His will.

In conclusion, life is not a line dance. If (when) we screw up and, for whatever reason, fall short of the bar concerning God’s will, don’t give up. Repent, and He will forgive you. Set your heart and mind fully on seeking and obeying His will and He will not forsake you.

for His glory,
DJ

Mysterious Ways

“God works in mysterious ways.” We have all heard this phrase at some point. Sometimes it is genuine and heartfelt. At other times it is harsh and sarcastic. This phrase seems to be a universal idiom, transcending theological borders and denominations. It is used by the redeemed and unredeemed alike; by Calvinists and Arminians, Charismatics and Cessationists, Baptists and Episcopalians. What does it really mean, though?

When I think of a mystery, I think of the board game Clue. The object of the game is to slowly gain clues in an attempt to solve the murder mystery. Each bit of information gained is another piece of the puzzle. Each player searches for the hidden truth behind the mystery until one enlightened player victoriously announces “Col. Mustard in the billiard room with the candlestick.” Case closed, mystery solved.

God’s will is not this type of mystery. It is true that our ways are not His ways, and that His thoughts are not our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). The gospel message is also referred to as a mystery (Mark 4:11, Eph. 6:19, Col. 4:3). It is not s Clue type mystery though. His will is not a hidden treasure to be searched for or a riddle to be solved. God’s will is a mystery to us because of our intrinsic ignorance. We just ain’t smart enough, wise enough, big enough, omniscient enough, or eternal enough. That is why we must rely on God’s self-revelation (aka The Bible). We lack the proper perspective and insight to always see and understand God’s will and His working. Therefore, God’s sovereignty and will seem mysterious to us. God intended it that way. We are to walk by faith and not by sight (2Corinthians 5:7). Our faith is to be firmly rooted in God’s will revealed to us in His word.

God’s will is not a mystery for us to try and solve. It is not a lost set of keys that we must find in order to unlock happiness and blessings. It’s not an algebra equation where we must solve for x. We can’t buy a vowel and solve the puzzle. We are to simply be obedient to what is clearly defined in Scripture as God’s will.

²⁹ “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. (Deuteronomy 29:29, New King James Version)

For His glory,
DJ

Suffering By & In God's Will

Pain, persecution, and suffering are all part of God’s will for our life (1Peter 3:17). It is His will of decree that we experience suffering. This is part of the sanctification process. Sometimes we are being disciplined and chastened by our loving Heavenly Father (Hebrews 12:6-7). At other times we must live with the consequence of our sin and our foolishness. And yet sometimes, God allows trials and tribulations to test our faith. If we pass the test, we will grow and bear the fruit patience and endurance. (James 1:2-3). If we fail, we realize our need for repentance and dependence on God. This is one reason that God decrees trials and sufferings. It is for our own (ultimate) good. It is so we may be mature, complete (James 1:4) established, strengthened, and settled (1Peter 5:10). All that live Godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution (2Timothy 3:12).

Why? Because that is what God has ordained, it is His will of decree. On the other hand, God also has a will of desire in the midst of our suffering. We have no choice in whether we suffer affliction and persecution, but we do choose how we respond in trials and suffering. God’s desire is that we suffer for righteousness (1 Peter 3:17). He desires that we do not suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evil doer or busybody (1 Peter 4:14-65). We are to suffer, not because we have failed to do the right thing or to be the right kind of person, but we should suffer for doing what is right.

Furthermore, we are not to repay evil for evil, but we are to repay evil with good (Proverbs 20:22, 1 Thess 5:15) and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:43-44). We are to be angry, yet not sin (Ephesians 4:26). It is God’s desire that we face trials and tribulations like Job. In the aftermath of the horrific events which robbed Job of his wealth and children Job was still able to bless the Lord and not sin (Job 1:20-22). This is the key principle; worship God and do not sin.

This key principle has two aspects: perspective and right decisions. In order to be able to worship and be joyful in hard times, then we must realizes that God is sovereign and in control. We must recognize that the situation is for our good, no matter how wretched it seems now. We must have faith. I am not talking about the positive attitude faith, or an intellectual faith, or even the name and claim if-I-believe-hard-enough-good-things-will-happen kind of faith. This is a gut-wrenching, breast-beating cry of “God be merciful to me, a sinner!” (Luke 18:13). It is a total dependence on God, and not your own strength.

Secondly, we must make a conscious decision to follow the path of righteousness. We must make the hard choices to follow God’s will of desire, even it means intensifying the pain, persecution and suffering. We must follow scripture, and be led by the Holy Spirit. This is no easy task, but it is crucial to our sanctification, our joy in Christ, and our testimony to God’s glory.

It is God’s will of decree that we suffer in trials and tribulations. It is His will of desire that we do so in obedience and righteousness.

¹⁰ But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. ¹¹ To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 5:10-11, New King James Version)

for His glory,

DJ

Will of God Poll

Which of the following pictures best represents your view of God's will?
Cast your vote(s) in the sidebar.


A. Maze









B. Hieroglyphics









C. Dice Roll










D. Fork In the Road












E. Soaring Eagle












F. Blueprints

In Praise of Providence

Over the past few years, God has continually impressed upon me one important principle: God is big. The realization (or illumination) of this fact has greatly changed my view of Him, myself, and this world we live in. He is, after all, the great and sovereign I AM. I am continually amazed at His surpassing awesomeness. The more I learn of His power and sovereignty, the more I am capable and compelled to worship Him in spirit and truth.

One of the questions which I have often pondered is God’s role in the seemingly casual, mundane aspects of my everyday life. In other words, does God micromanage the universe? This is a fundamental question about the character of God. It’s not a question of His capabilities, but of the extent to which He intercedes.

Is He similar to the Greek god Zeus, sitting afar on His throne throwing down miracles like lighting bolts?

Or maybe He is the proverbial watchmaker, looking on His creation with unconcerned and disinterested?

Or is He the God who is infinitely involved in every aspect of His creation; lovingly guiding, directing and working all things according to His own desire and plan.

More and more I believe the latter.

The Bible is a testament to God’s total providence. Phil Johnson states it this way, “Providence is God’s faithful, moment-by-moment control over everything He has made to ensure that everything He has created achieves the end He has chosen.”

God works all things according to His will (Ephesians 1:11) and for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). God controls the details of the universe, from ever falling sparrow (Matthew 10:29), to every roll of the dice (Proverbs 16:33). He has carefully number the hairs on your head (Matthew 10:30). He guides the steps of men (Proverbs 16:9) and works all things together for good to those who love Him (Romans 8:28). God provides for our every need (Matthew 6:25-26) and graciously gives us good gifts (James 1:17). He draws us to Himself (John 6:44) and He tests and sanctifies us with trials (1 Peter 4:19). He redirects evil intentions, transforming them into good (Genesis 50:20). He holds all things together (Hebrews 1:3).

Indeed God is a God of providence. He is intimately involved in our lives, guiding, directing, managing, and interceding. Experience and history are yet another testament to His providence. Though invisible at the time, hind-sight reveals God’s handy work. I can see God’s control in the decisions, circumstances and “coincidences” in my past.

Realizing this awesome truth should increase our hope and trust in Him. Therefore, with joy, hope and confidence we can pray, “Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven!”
God is big. Amen.

For His glory,
DJ