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Morning Thoughts |
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Morning Thoughts |
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Acts 23:11-12, "And the night
following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou
hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome. And
when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under
a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed
Paul." This morning, one of the most personal, experiential subjects for us in our spiritual walk is that of God's providence. When speaking of God's purpose in redeeming His people with all of the various elements that make it up (election, predestination, effectual call, etc.), we can speak in sure and absolute terms that will never shift or change. The reason such boldness may be had on these items is because the Bible is specifically clear and unequivocal about it. However, there are certain subjects that we find woven throughout the fabric of the Holy Scriptures that resonate with us in our lives, but the difference is that these things are not uniform and identical for everybody. If I am going to speak of God's redemptive dealing with His people, I can speak about all of us collectively and individually, for the same, identical elements and work is done for each of us. If I am going to speak of God's providential dealings in our lives, my illustrations and applications from the Bible are going to be those that have resonated the most in my personal life, but they may or may not resonate as much with someone else, for God's providential dealings with His people are not identical, although this in no way charges God with inconsistency. The difference is in the person and their conduct, and therefore, the dealing by God is specific to that person. Even though God deals with us, in providence, specific to our person and needs, there are some common factors to it that we can see evidenced through many different people's experiences. For example, God's providence to His ministry in blessing them to preach in power is very consistently tied to their prayer, meditation, and study. His providential guidance to us will generally lift when we falter in these things, and His guidance will generally abound when we are diligent in these things. Faithfulness in our service yields greater measures of His direction and blessing. Another thing that God's providence does not completely overwhelm and nullify is good sense. Since He has given us the spirit of power, love, and a sound mind, He expects us to use these three areas to His glory and our benefit. (II Timothy 1:7) He has given us power and expects us to use it; love is implanted, which He expects us to show forth to Him and our neighbour, and a sound mind is given to use in its faculties and critical thinking skills. This second aspect of a sound mind (good sense) in connection with God's providence is what we would like to focus on from the verses above. In verse 11, Paul knows, beyond a shadow of a doubt, where he will end up going before his life is over. The Lord says that just as surely as he (Paul) has preached and testified in Jerusalem will be just as sure that he do the same in Rome. Since there was no doubt in Paul's mind that he had done these things in Jerusalem, there could be no doubt that he would do these things later in Rome. Are we to take from this revelation of the Lord to Paul that such is foreordained, predestinated, and all elements to it unalterable? No, this passage entertains none of those thoughts, but rather, the Lord Himself speaks directly that by His providence, this will happen. The Bible clearly reserves predestination (foreordaining of something or someone) to His children and nothing else. (Romans 8:28-31) Therefore, Paul's journey to Rome is not according to that working of God, and in the revelation, God did not inform Paul how or when exactly he would get to Rome, by His providence. Paul does not know the specifics of this message, but he has been blessed by God to know something of his future. Many times, we, in our lives, desire to know everything we will face in the foreseeable future. During today's tough times, people are anxious and in fear and trepidation about their future and the future of their loved ones. No doubt fear would be assuaged should the Lord appear to us, telling us to be of good cheer, for a particular thing awaits us. Perhaps this thing the Lord tells us we will experience gives us joy, much like preaching was a joy to Paul as it should be for any minister. If the Lord appeared in such a way, what reason would there be to fear and not be of good cheer? I can say assuredly that my life has not had this level of revelation from God. More often than not, His providential dealings in my life have come through the still small voice that whispers and speaks peace in my ear and says, "Fear not." However the method of delivery, the point is the same. We are to be of good cheer, and since the Lord has called us to follow Him and serve Him, we should not be overly anxious and in fear of the details. As His word is a lamp unto our feet and light unto our path (Psalm 119:105), our steps generally speaking have just enough lamp illumination to know where the next step should be. A lamp does not give off a great light to see the entirety of every step, but the light unto our path does indeed show us where the destination (heaven) is. What may befall us between now and heaven, we know not, but what we know is that by heeding what the lamp illuminates, we can serve Him today in an acceptable manner. Therefore, Paul knew not exactly what each step and portion of the journey would be, but God told him he would preach at Rome, and so he eventually did. The very next verse opens an account of those that tried to thwart what God just revealed to Paul. They would neither eat nor drink till they had killed him, and these more than 40 men appealed to those in authority (chief priests) to assist them in fulfilling their curse and oath by which they were bound. We understand from further reading in the passage that their intent was overthrown, and I have always wondered how many (if any) of those in that band were faithful to their cursed oath and died of dehydration and malnutrition. But, along the course of reading how their plans were thwarted, what transpires? They are overheard by Paul's nephew, and he, in turn, tells Uncle Paul what is going on. Does Paul politely tell his nephew that God has already told him that such could not succeed based on the Lord's revelation? Did Paul say, "Well, they can't stop me from going to Rome."? No, Paul used the good sense and sound mind that the Lord had given him to critically assess the situation and make the right choice for his feet at that moment. He immediately directs the message to the chief captain, who in turn, delivers Paul by the hand of horsemen and soldiers unto the city of Caesarea. Paul is delivered from the murderous intent of these men based on what God's providence blessed Him with. Should Paul have recounted this to those in Rome, I would rather suspect that he attributed his nephew's arrival with the needed information to the guiding, providential hand of God. Could God have opened the prison, saved Paul Himself, set Him in a boat, and taken the boat by His Spirit's wind to the coasts of Rome? Absolutely, but God's providential dealings, many times, guide us in situations where God expects us to use the sound mind He has given us and make sensible choices. What was personal to Paul at this time was the knowledge that he would eventually preach and bear witness in Rome. Paul's nephew did not know what the Lord had revealed to Paul. However, the nephew's honourable actions corroborated with what Paul had already been enlightened about. Our experiences with God Almighty may include things that others are not privy to, but when their actions corroborate with what we already understand, we should have the good sense to make the God-honouring choice. So often, people ask ministers about situations in life and how they should deal with them, and sometimes I am unable to give them any specifics as to their course. I try to point them in the correct way according to the guidelines of Scriptures, but the specifics may be personal between them and their Redeemer. However, my hope is that my words will corroborate and resonate with what they have already heard from the still small voice that says, "This is the way, walk ye in it." (Isaiah 30:21) May we pay attention to the personal care that God, by His providence, has blessed us with so that our ears would be ever open to listen to Him and our eyes ever watchful to perceive the import of different elements in a situation to act upon both in a fashion that is in harmony and mutuality. In Hope,  Bro Philip |