August 1, Matthew 20
One of the psalms tells us God is in heaven and does as he pleases. We try to control ourselves and the people around us. We tend to think we can determine our course and call the shots. But circumstances remind us there are many things beyond our control. In an old story, a little boy asks his father, “When will I be old enough so no one can tell me what to do?” We smile at the answer because we know it’s true: “I don’t know son, no one’s ever lived that long.”
God really is sovereign. His control is complete. His power is absolute. He is the master of the house who can say to those who grumbled at the pay window about his generosity, “I choose to give.” Another psalm says he owns everything. So the master’s words from the story are quite appropriate for God: “Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs
to me?” It’s true that God will always act in a manner consistent with his nature. But who are we as creatures to assume we understand all about the nature of our Creator?
Because God is sovereign, his plans for his kingdom and our place in it are in his hands. When disciples or enemies had ideas about Messiah and the kingdom that were not in line
with God’s plans, they either bowed to or were broken by the sovereignty of God. When a mother asked that her sons be granted special places around the throne, Jesus said such
things were in the Father’s hands. Jesus himself was on his way to Jerusalem to die to accomplish God’s plan. That was what God had
prepared for his own Son, who taught his disciples that greatness in God’s kingdom was to be found in serving, not controlling.
One of the wonders of God’s sovereignty is that the God who does as he pleases is willing to receive our requests. He grants them if he chooses to do so. When Jesus asked people who came to him what they wanted, he listened. He did not always grant the request, but he sometimes did, and taught us as
disciples to ask. There is tremendous encouragement in this for us. While we may not have the power to do as we please about everything, we have audience with the one who does. In addition to the power, he has the wisdom and the benevolent will toward us to do what is best for us whether we understand it or not. Trust God. Rejoice and rest in his sovereignty.
From The Abiding Companion: A Friendly Guide
for Your Journey Through the New Testament,
Copyright © 2010 by Michael B. McElroy. Used
by permission. All rights reserved.
Today in God's Word—August 2024
East Tallassee Church of Christ
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