God’s Saving Providence
Quote; “The fact that we are called upon to endure trials show that the Lord Jesus sees in us something precious which He desires to develop. If He saw in us nothing whereby He might glorify His name, He would not spend time in refining us. He does not cast worthless stones into His furnace. It is valuable ore that He refines. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28.
God never leads His children otherwise than they would choose to be led, if they could see the end from the beginning and discern the glory of the purpose which they are fulfilling as co-workers with Him. All that has perplexed us in the providences of God will in the world to come be made plain. The things hard to be understood will then find explanation. The mysteries of grace will unfold before us. Where our finite minds discovered only confusion and broken promises, we shall see the most perfect and beautiful harmony. We shall know that infinite love ordered the experiences that seemed most trying.
He who is imbued with the Spirit of Christ abides in Christ. The blow that is aimed at us falls upon our Saviour, who surrounds us with His presence. Whatever comes to him comes past Christ. He has power to resist evil, for Christ is his defence. Nothing can touch him except by our Lord’s permission, and “all things” that are permitted “work together for good to them that love God.” Our heavenly Father has a thousand ways to provide for us of which we know nothing. Those who accept the one principle of making the service of God supreme, will find perplexities vanish and a plain path before their feet. As a little child, trust to the guidance of Him who will “keep the feet of his saints.” 1 Samuel 2:9. As we commit our ways to Him, He will direct our steps.
The perception of God’s love causes us to renounce all selfishness. In calling God our Father, we recognize all His children as our brethren. We are all a part of the great web of humanity, all members of one family. God is the Maker of all mankind. All men are of one family by creation, and all are one through redemption. Christ came to demolish every wall of partition, to throw open every compartment of the temple courts, that every soul may have free access to God. He came to show that His gift of mercy and love is as unconfined as the air, the light, or the showers of rain that refresh the earth.
His love is so broad, so deep, and so full, that it penetrates everywhere. It lifts out of Satan’s influence those who have been deluded by his deceptions, and places them within reach of the throne of God, the throne encircled by the rainbow of promise. God is our Father and Governor. The principles which rule in heaven should rule upon earth, the same love that animates the angels, the same purity and holiness that reign in heaven, should, as far as possible, be reproduced upon earth.
If you call God your Father, you acknowledge yourselves His children, to be guided by His wisdom and to be obedient in all things, knowing that His love is changeless. You will accept His plan for your life. As children of God, you will hold His honour, His character, His family, His work, as the objects of your highest interest. It will be your joy to recognize and honour your relation to your Father and to every member of His family. You will rejoice to do any act, however humble, that will tend to His glory or to the well-being of your kindred. {FLB 64-65}
This Quote is so encouraging, in that when we are “In Christ” and “Spirit Led” we are in the assurance of living the “Holy Life.” Romans 8:27-29 “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what [is] the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to [the will of] God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
Matthew 6:9-10 “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven.” How much “Heavenly Directing” is in our daily lives? The previous scripture admonishes us with this, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven.” How so very easy to rush through our day’s activities and through life singing, “I did it my way,” and then so often try to blame God for all the disasters in our life, when we did not let him have any part in directing our paths, letting “His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.”
Back to a portion from our big quote; “God never leads His children otherwise than they would choose to be led, if they could see the end from the beginning and discern the glory of the purpose which they are fulfilling as co-workers with Him.” And then add this, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven.” Philippians 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure.” God’s saving providence is set in motion for your life and very best for you here and eternally, so is it “God’s Will” and Life, or “your will” and confusion?
