Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Orange Moon "Worshipping and Wondering" Part 2

The Special of the Day... From the Orange Moon Cafe...

 

 

"Worshipping and Wondering"

 

Part 2

 

    We mentioned in yesterday's message that human beings require the knowledge, understanding, and wisdom of God in order to accomplish anything.

 

    "That was the true Light, which ligheth every man that cometh into the world" (John 1:9).

    "O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps" (Jeremiah 10:23).

 

    This raises a fascinating point, namely, we do not always use the light of God for good.  Human history chronicles the ongoing use and misuse of our Lord's provision.  We use the things He made to glorify Him and benefit others and ourselves.  We also use those things for ill and evil.  God allows both applications, which raises another fascinating consideration: what kind of Deity would have created a universe in which His blessings can not only be used for good, but also for wrong?  This boggles the mind, especially when we consider the perfect character, nature, and morality of the living and true God. "As for God, His way is perfect" (II Samuel 22:31).  Why would He have created beings who could reject Him and rebel against Him?

 

    You'll find no definitive answers here.  Moreover, we should be suspect of anyone who claims to possess more than a glimmer of light regarding such mystery.  We do know this, however: God eternally exists as a relational being, that is, as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, dwelling as one Divinity in three distinct Persons.  Thus, if He creates conscious beings such as angels and humans, He must create them with capacities for relationship.  This requires freedom because no true relationship, as defined by Scripture, can exist apart from the exercising of personal liberty and determination.  Thus, God's creation of conscious beings required His granting of their freedom to use His gifts for either good or ill, all operating within the scope of His ultimate purposes in Christ (Ephesians 3:11).

 

   The believer's best response to this preponderance of mystery and glimmer of light involves our determination to use God's gifts as best we can, trusting in the leadership and enabling of the Holy Spirit, and seeking to honor the Lord Jesus in all our application of our Heavenly Father's generous bestowal.  "Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God… Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily as to the Lord" (I Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:23).  We can understand enough to do that, and we can also trust that our Lord is able to work all things together for His honor and our good, including both the proper and improper use of His freely given gifts.  Mystery indeed, but no mystery at all that worship and wonder must be our first response to so glorious a God.

 

"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!"

(Romans 11:33)

 

Weekly Memory Verse

   In Him we live and move and have our being.

(Acts 17:28)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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