The God Who Determines & Knows

Thursday’s Reading: Isaiah 37 & Revelation 7

• Isaiah 37:26, Have you not heard that I determined it long ago? I planned from days of old what now I bring to pass, that you should make fortified cities crash into heaps of ruins.

Scripture is quite clear concerning the work of God in the past which determines what happens in the present.  But Scripture is also quite clear concerning the responbility of man for his choices and rebellion.

• Isaiah 37:28&29, I know your sitting down and your going out and coming in, and your raging against me. 29 Because you have raged against me and your complacency has come to my ears, I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth, and I will turn you back on the way by which you came.

God promises His judgment here not because it was determined but because of their choice to fight against God. Is God sovereign? Yes. Is man responsible? Yes. 

• 1 Corinthians 15:10, But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

I long for the day when the chuch is theologically deep and passionate. Today it appears that the church has said it must be one way or the other. You can be passionate but not theological or you can be theological but not passionate.  I long to taste the grace of God and work hard. My desire is for God to raise up a church full of men and women who taste the grace of God and work hard.

Lord, I trust Your sovereign will, perfect wisdom, and infinite strength.  Your grace is sufficient for me.  Forgive me for discouragement and frustration. Give me faith so that my discouragement and frustration are replaced with hard work.  Like Hezekiah I seek your help. Like the worshippers in heaven I know salvation belongs to You and to the Lamb.  Shelter me with your presence. Feed me. Quench my thirst. Protect me from the beating sun.  I want to follow the Shepherd. I want Him to lead me to streams of living water. I want You to wipe away every tear from my eye.  Make me Christ-centered. Make me a hard worker. I trust You Lord, you are the God who determines and the God who knows.  You are trustworthy.

In Jesus’ name

Amen