Found this in our family reading at breakfast this morning: In her devotional book called, "Pearls of Great Price" from the January 6 entry, Joni Eareckson Tada explains Gen. 50:20 - "God meant it for good" in the context of all the horrific experiences that Joseph endured before ascending to greatness as a ruler in Egypt (Remember: He was thrown into a hole by his brothers, sold as a slave, lived as a slave, falsely accused of rape, thrown into a dungeon for about 2 years, etc...) Here is an observation that Joni makes about God's perfect sovereignty over all of the circumstances of the lives of His children. From her wheel chair, she writes: "God is not a sweep-up boy who follows you with a dustpan and brush, second-guessing how everything will fit into a devine pattern for good. He does not put on a Hazmat suit so that an evil situation will not contaminate His holy reputation. Think of disappointing or bad things that have happened to you. God's hands stay on the wheel of your life from start to finish so that everything follows His intention for your life. This means your trials have more meaning - much more - than you realize. Your problems have more purpose than you can imagine. Not because God merely used bad things, but because God intended them so that others might be brought to Jesus through your example."
Thank you, Joni, for these insights! You see, Beloved, according to the scriptures, all things are not good that happen to you, and God is not the author of evil (James and Romans). But God, in His unsearchable sovereignty, causes all things, bad and good, to work together for good for His children (Romans 8:28; Gen.50:20). Be encouraged in the Lord today. Reach out and take His warm and kind hand, and find the healing that your heart so longs to know!
No comments:
Post a Comment