Jeremiah 45:5 says that God wants to give us our life as a prize of war.  But we only receive a prize of war when it's over, when the battles have been fought and the field is littered with casualties.

War is tough and life seems more difficult than we can handle at times and true growth hurts, it never comes easy.  The hardships we encounter will cause one of two things to happen... the bumps, bruises and injury we suffer will harden and become tough.  Those layers will desensitize and become calluses that isolate us from those around us.
But Gods plan, the plan that our life is a prize, a life more abundant is callus free.   Those same trials don't create a hardened callus but rather form the walls of a chrysalis. A cocoon to initiate change and transformation.  


And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.1 Peter 5:10, 

No matter what's happening, it won't last forever, this too shall pass.

Acceptance

Lord if You will You can make me clean

Luke 5:12 ESV

We follow a Lord that can do anything and we must always remember it’s not if You can, but if You will.  As broken a flawed people, who are terribly impatient, we feel that when what we ask God for doesn’t come quickly that He just isn’t listening.  Some even feel that maybe they didn’t pray right or enough.  We feel that our request is good (we want it) and that there may even be scriptural references that we can come up with why God should provide the answer we want.

But what happens when he doesn’t answer us in the timeframe we determine that he should?

How do we feel when He doesn’t answer us in the exact way we think He should?

How do we feel when He doesn’t answer us at all?

Do you accept that a sovereign, all knowing and omniscient has decided that he will answer you in the way He feels best?  Not your timeframe but His.  Because you may not have been ready and couldn’t truly appreciate His provision yet.  Not what you asked for but what He knows you need, the best for you. The truth that He didn’t provide it because you didn’t need it or He may have something better for you in His timeframe?

Not yet

Not that, but this

No…

Is God still good when He doesn’t answer the way we feel best?  Is he the Lord of our life if we don’t trust His decisions as best?  Who serves who?  Who knows best?

I’ll use the word loosely, but with maturity and time we can see that God knows best.  And like children see that their parents aren’t as dumb as they think we can also begin to see God as wiser and more capable of seeing what’s best for us.  With time, we become wiser, certainly not wise but wiser.

… but the upright enjoy acceptance.

Proverbs 14:9 ESV

The original Hebrew word for acceptance in this passage is Rotsown/ raw-tsone'. At its most basic meaning is pleasure.  Are we truly taking pleasure in the interactions we have with God?

Preparation

This morning in my time with God I was surprised by the direction and focus He gave me.  Preparation...  I don't feel like I'm preparing for anything right now and truly feel I'm prepared for what I'm doing but being open to following God's direction I’ve focused a little deeper on the word he gave me, preparation.

My "scheduled" passage of NT scripture this morning was Luke 5:1-11.  It's a familiar story of Jesus calling his first disciples and having meditated, study and taught on the passage numerous times in the past, I had some thoughts going into it about its meaning.  My thoughts on this area have always been of being ready, obedience and provision.  But preparation has never been something I gave much thought to.

“Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.

Luke 5: 8-9 ESV

For the first time this old passage meant something new to me given my focus on preparation, I saw this as way of Jesus preparing these men to follow Him.  He had never met them and they had no reason or basis to place any trust in Him but fulfilling a specific need they had obviously got their attention.  They had fished all night and had nothing to show for it but at a simple direction from Jesus, they had more than they could take into the boat.  See, Jesus knew that for them to be obedient to His call to follow Him, He would have to create a basis for that trust.  Imagine how easy it was for those men to drop what they were doing to follow Christ now.  Now that He had prepared them properly and they knew that doing as He said and leaving their profession behind would not leave them without provision. Jesus knew He must prepare them to trust Him.

Now what does preparation mean to me?  I’m going to spend some time working that out but I know one thing for sure….

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 ESV

No matter what we are going through God is preparing us for something.  We just need to be open to hearing His voice and being obedient to follow.

Does God make mistakes?

Does God ever make a mistake?   

 

NO

 

God doesn’t and can’t make a mistake, but sometimes it may feel like He has. But we don’t get to see things the way God does. God has a view that encompasses not just the now but also the future. Our view is limited by our understanding while God’s perspective is infinite. There have been many times in my life, during a trial or difficult situation where I found myself questioning God but the ultimate result was something good for me. Whenever this happens, I always find that I was wrong because I couldn’t see the whole picture and the truth is I didn’t have the wisdom to trust God.

 

 

8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD.
9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9

 

 

So what does that mean when you question God and how it appears he is working in and around your life? If you do question God have you sinned, are you a bad person or is your faith weak or in question? I say absolutely not.

 

The Bible holds Abraham up as “THE” example of faith, even calling him a friend of God.

 

8 "But you, O Israel, my servant,
Jacob, whom I have chosen,
you descendants of Abraham my friend
Isaiah 41:8

 

But even Abraham had questions about what God was doing and if it was the right thing. But he was a man of great faith and he handled his questions differently than most do. He didn’t yell, scream and accuse God of not looking out for him. A lot of people today give up on God when they don’t see results immediately and discount the fact that things worthwhile are worth waiting for.

 

But Abraham was very different from the doubters of today. He did have questions, just like you and I do from time to time. Just like us, he had a difficult time trying to understand why God did this or didn’t do that.

 

So if he had the same questions and concerns that we have, what made him so special? Why did God single him out, call him righteous and more important friend? To see what made Abraham different than those around him and attempt to apply the same ideals to ourselves we have to ask a very simple question.

 

Where is God in your life?

 

• When you have choices to make in life do you go to the Lord in prayer or do go with your feelings?

 

• When someone expresses their thoughts and opinions to you do you evaluate them against what the Bible says?  Do you evaluate your thoughts and opinions the same way?

 

• When your feelings enter into the picture do allow the Word of God, written in your heart to kick in and take over?

 

If you can honestly answer yes to those questions then you are on the right path.  If you answered any with a no (if you are honest we will all at best answer, "a lot of the time") then that is the area of your life you need to concentrate applying faith. Let’s look at what made Abraham the man of faith, the example of faith as described in the Bible. What was different about Abraham?

 

Abraham was God’s friend.

 

And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend.

James 2:23

 

Abraham walked in harmony with God. The questions he did have didn’t come from a rebellious heart or hostility, they were just questions and he looked to God for the answers. No matter what happened Abraham always had an attitude, “When God speaks, I will respond in faith”. Not only would he hear God, more importantly he would listen to what he had to say.

 

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

Hebrews 11:8

 

That passage of scripture shows how seriously Abraham took God’s Word and that’s what faith is all about. True faith, the faith assigned to Abraham says when God speaks and gives me direction; I’m just going to start walking. We have to have the same respect and sense of awe that Abraham had for God. We have to look really hard at where we’ve put God and His Word in our life.

 

While God doesn’t reveal Himself to us in the same manner He did to Abraham, He has spoken to us all very clearly in His Word, the Bible:

 

1In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

Hebrews 1:1-3

 

 

 

God has chosen different avenues to speak to His people in the past with individuals such as David and Solomon and the Old Testament Prophets and Seers. But today we have the message of Christ, revealed in the New Testament and the promise of the Holy Spirit to guide is in finding God’s will for our lives. We have to show the same reverence and respect for the written Word of God we have today that Abraham showed to the Word received from God. In order for us to try and emulate the faith of Abraham, we need to know a little more about him. Let’s look at a specific situation he encountered which resulted in him having questions about what God was doing, and how he handled it.

 

 

This passage will show us 3 very admirable qualities Abraham had and we should strive for.

 

 

 

1. Abraham was a generous and hospitable man.

 

1 The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. 3 He said, "If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. 4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. 5 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant." "Very well," they answered, "do as you say." 6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. "Quick," he said, "get three seahs of fine flour and knead it and bake some bread." 7 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.

Genesis 18:1-8

 

 

Three men paid Abraham a visit and he was very hospitable to them, giving them food and a place to stay. At first Abraham didn’t know was that he was hosting the Lord and two angels, he’s just being a good host. We are told to act the same way in the New Testament.

 

 

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

Hebrews 13:2

 

And while they were enjoying Abraham’s hospitality, the conversation turned to his wife Sarah.

 

9 "Where is your wife Sarah?" they asked him. "There, in the tent," he said. 10 Then the LORD said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son." Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. 11 Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, "After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?" 13 Then the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?' 14 Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son." 15 Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, "I did not laugh." But he said, "Yes, you did laugh."

Genesis 18:9-15

 

Sarah overheard and thought the exact same thing anyone of her age would have thought, “No way is that going to happen, I’m too old”. And God’s response was to ask her the question – “Is anything too hard for the LORD”? And you and I would do well to burn that phrase into out thought process:

 

“Is anything too hard for the LORD”?

 

The same God who gave Abraham and Sarah a child under “impossible” odds, is the same God who can look at whatever issue is going on in your life and say “No sweat. I’ve got that for you”.

 

 

 

2. Abraham was a confidant of God.

 

 

God was through with Sodom and Gomorrah. Known for their extreme wickedness, these towns were a constant challenge to God and even after many opportunities to repent; they chose to thumb their noses at Him. Their time was up and God believed Abraham worthy of His confidence:

 

16 When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way. 17 Then the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? 18 Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. 19 For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him." 20 Then the LORD said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous 21 that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know."
Genesis 18:16-22

 

So the Lord was pleased with Abraham and even chose to confide in him His plans to visit Sodom and Gomorrah to determine their fate. Today we to can be a “friend of God”! In the Gospel of John we are told:

 

 

You are my friends if you do what I command.
John 15:14

 

Do you want God to speak to you?

 

Would you be interested in God speaking to you like a friend?

 

How would you like to have God confide in you and let you in on His plans?

 

You can have that and a whole lot more. God will speak to you today through His living breathing Word, the Bible. The Bible has everything you need to know to be successful in life and engage His blessing to level He has planned for you. And any good friend will tell you some things you don’t want to hear sometimes, but things you need to hear. And Jesus being the friend He is, has some tough stuff to share with us.  While there are many ideas and principles expressed in the Bible that are easy to take to heart, others… Not so much.

 

I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour.
Revelation 10:10

 

 

The scroll was the written Word of God. And while the promises of eternal life, redemption of sin and a one on one relationship with God are sweet, other scriptures are little harder to swallow, and can even becoming sour if not addressed properly.

 

Is there a passage of scripture that doesn’t sit too well with you or even makes you feel a little uncomfortable?

 

Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind…
Psalm 26:2

 

 

I would challenge you to give some consideration to anything you find in the Bible that does give you question, and ask God to put His microscope on it and it’s relation to your life. I feel confident that when you do, you will see things a little differently.  I also believe you will find God is right, you're wrong.

 

Abraham sure did…

 

 

3. Abraham presented his questions to God, no one else.

 

 

When God shared His plan for the destruction of Sodom he was filled with concern and doubt...

 

22 The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD. 23 Then Abraham approached him and said: "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare [f] the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?"
Genesis 18:22-25

 

 

Abraham did question God but look how it did it. He approached God and simply asked his question. He didn’t rebel, he didn’t curse he just asked God about it.

 

 

Abraham had family that lived in Sodom and had even helped saved it from attack of foreign kings. He just couldn’t wrap his head around the idea that everyone in Sodom could be bad enough to wipe out the whole place. Abraham had a concern over God’s decision. God had always proven Himself to be just and the idea of killing the righteous people of Sodom along with the wicked ones just didn’t seem right. So God responded to his concerns.

 

 

26 The LORD said, "If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake."
27 Then Abraham spoke up again: "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, 28 what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city because of five people?" "If I find forty-five there," he said, "I will not destroy it."
29 Once again he spoke to him, "What if only forty are found there?" He said, "For the sake of forty, I will not do it."
30 Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?" He answered, "I will not do it if I find thirty there."
31 Abraham said, "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?" He said, "For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it."
32 Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?" He answered, "For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it."
33 When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.
Genesis 18: 26-33

Abraham eventually found out the truth, God was just. He already knew that there weren’t any righteous people in Sodom; Abraham’s problem was he didn’t have all the info God did and didn’t have the benefit on providence.

 

Conclusion

 

 

So the original question was “Does God make mistakes”? Without question the answer is no. But will we have opportunity to question God? Without question the answer is yes.  But when he did question what God was doing in and around his life, he still had faith that God would do what he said he’d do in the end. Abraham lived by faith. So when you do question if God is really working in your life, and you will, we have to commit to trusting God to do what he says he’s going to do.

 

• You can’t know what God has promised and wants to do for you if you don’t read the Bible.
• You can’t have the attitude that God can and will do anything He wants to for you if you don’t test your desires and needs against his Word.
• You can’t be a friend of Jesus if you don’t follow His command. How will you know His command if you don’t read the Bible?

 

God will show you the way and confide His plan for your life. It’s written in the pages of His Word.

  

How can you have confidence enough to boldly approach God with your questions and know you have that right. You find your rights as a Christian and the authority you’ve been given in the Bible.

 

God’s promises and hope for us are so easy to grasp if we just open the pages of His Word and take them. If you do I promise you God will speak to you. The only way you can unleash the abundant life that He has in store for you is to engage the principles found in this book and commit to following them no matter what. Once the Bible becomes the final authority in your life all argument is over.

 

It really is that simple. Find a time everyday to read the Bible and ask God to reveal his thoughts and will to you. Test what you do against what you read. Be prepared to listen. And follow those words without question and without hesitation.

 

 

And if you do that then you will have something in common with Abraham and I don’t know about you but being the same category of one of God’s friends sounds good to me!

 

Grab God's blessing today!

 

Jeff