The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"Passing Through Providence"
We were involved in an auto accident yesterday. A lady distracted by her phone struck us from behind while we were stationary at a stoplight. I am happy to report that Frances and I appear to be fine, as is our daughter Emmie, who was with us in the car (I am also glad the lady who struck us and her daughter were uninjured). Our car will need a new back bumper, but all in all, we have much for which to be grateful.
"Safety is of the Lord" (Proverbs 21:31).
Our Heavenly Father measures our challenges. He allows the hedge to come down sometimes, resulting in difficulties, pains, and losses. However, nothing can confront us that does not pass through His determinations and/or allowances. The Lord knows His perfect ability to "work all things together for good to them that love Him" (Romans 8:28). Thus, He weaves His purposes into all things. We can look back on yesterday's crash and jerk with thanksgiving for protection, and for the certainty of His purpose in having allowed it. Of course, James clearly teaches us that we cannot and should not say that God determined an event that resulted from human irresponsibility (James 1:13). However, Paul's aforementioned assurance of Divine involvement in "all things" means we can be sure that Providence allowed and measured the challenge in accordance with God's "all things together for good" protocol.
What might be the reasons for the hedge to have been lowered a bit yesterday? Time and eternity will tell. Certainly, we have a new family for whom to pray, that is, the lady, her daughter, and husband. The officer who helped us also found his way onto our prayer list. He could not have been more concerned, gracious, or professional. I furthermore have this opportunity to share with you the truth we consider in this message regarding God's coordination of all things. Moreover, who knows what will come forth from the event, and even more, from the Lord's working because it took place? We do not yet know the details, but we know with absolute assurance that He will grant opportunities for faith and faithfulness that would not exist without the jarring occurrence of yesterday.
Born again believers in the Lord Jesus can - and must - view all things in this holy light. Problems and pains must pass through Providence. Our faith began in this manner, on a cruel cross. "Wicked hands" slew the Lord Jesus. However, "the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God" made the Savior's sufferings and death the very hope of our eternal salvation (Acts 2:23). All other challenges pale in comparison to this. We therefore make the choices to trust our Lord when the hedge drops, praising and thanking Him for His wisdom and power in working all things together for good, and looking with expectant hearts to see how His coordination will be revealed. Certainly, we wouldn't have wanted to have been involved in the accident yesterday. But now that it has happened, we more importantly do not want to fail to recognize the heart and hand of God as He uses the event in ways we shall see as time and eternity unfolds the tapestry of Providence to our hearts and lives.
"God… worketh all things after the counsel of His own will."
(Ephesians 1:3; 11)
Weekly Memory Verse
"Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light."
(Ephesians 5:14)
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