Ephesians 1:11-14
What?
Paul gives us assurance of our salvation, in that we were chosen, or predestined, and then he tells us why twice in this passage. He adds that " we, who were the first to hope in Christ might be for the praise of his glory."(vs.12)
So What?
God's sovereignty is so evident throughout this passage. Paul repeatedly links God's salvation of us to his final plans for all the world in this chapter. The Westminster Confession of Faith gives the result of this truth better than I can. (In regards to the doctrine of Predestination) "So shall this doctrine afford matter of praise. reverence, and admiration of God: and humility, diligence, and abundant consolation to all that sincerely obey the gospel." Just think I am me to bring praise to his abundant glory, and he loves it as I do. He invites to know him in order to praise him more because I will know his Majesty and Power in a fuller way.
What Now?
I am again humbled, and look back on my concerns, my fears, my anxiousness, and am humbled when I reflect on this truth. My trouble is planning, and working through problems. I enjoy being puzzled, and trying to use "rational" thought (I know none of us is at all free from bias's) to work at solutions and make attempts to plan for the future. I'm not sure where the line is that I have stopped trusting in God and starting to trust in my own planning as if he didn't have plans. God gave me those senses to use, yet I know I get so wrapped up in them that I forgot to trust in his sovereignty. The flip side is I don't think trusting in his sovereignty means that I simply flip coins to make decisions all the day and trust the outcome. I think it is a matter of where my heart is at as I go about these things, but I'm still hazy on where to go with this.
3 comments:
I struggle with this too: how much am I to use the sense God gave me and when does it become independence and pride? For me it comes down to motives: I want to please God and I try to be in a place where he can intervene and direct but absent his intervention I am going to keep moving forward as best as I possibly can using all the resources he has given me: my own decision making skills, the wisdom of trusted friends/mentors, prayer and my understanding of the Word. I think that's the best I can do.
Huge battle!
I always try to be the frontman, be my own shepard and just do my own thing. Forcing myself to believe "yeah, this is Gods will". When often I will look back and it is not.
When the good days come, I find myself in prayer. Knowing he is control, and allowing him to take the wheel. At the same time understanding that he blessed me with a great brain and he would enjoy me using it sometime. But letting him be the goal at the end of the day. He stands at the finish line waiting for me to finish my race, there are several paths to take all given by him, he doesnt care which path I take as long as I run as hard and as fast as I can to him..the finish line. Of course sometimes there is only one righteous path for some situations and sometimes I quite the race and run off track and do my own thing - lack of God - sin.
Yeah, I agree - he does enjoy it when we use our brains! Thanks, Graham - you put it really well!
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