Today's Worship: God yearns for all.

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 1:9-10,

 

"The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower."

 

God loves all people. It matters not whether they are held in high esteem in this life. Indeed, in 2:5 James makes a point that God has sought those who are poor in this life. This world seeks the attractive, the powerful, the wealthy and the strong. God is not moved by these things. We are told in 1 Corinthians 1:25-29, "The foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him."

 

What God does desire is that we turn to him. Perhaps it is easier to turn to God when we find a need for him in this life. The reality is that we all desperately need him, it is just that some fail to recognize that need. Paul knew something of this, and in his efforts with the Gentiles, it was his hope that as his own people, the Jews, saw the Gentiles turning to God it might cause a sense of envy and develop within them a desire to have what the Gentiles were receiving. "Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them." Romans 11:13-14.

 

In that God has chosen for himself all who will embrace him in faith, whatever it takes to bring about that faith when the gospel message is presented is useful for the purposes of God.

 

The wonderful thing of God's heart displayed in all this is that his heart yearns for all. Not a select few, not just the attractive, not just the rich, not just the strong, he wants us all, "This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:3-4.

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com