The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in James 4:14-15,
"What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.'"
I am reminded that, although God has given us a free will to make decisions, what we find ourselves capable of doing always falls within the range or sphere of what it is that God allows. For instance, when I was a boy I used to dream of how wonderful it would be if I could fly unassisted. Unfortunately for me in this childhood desire, God designed the cosmos with a force called gravity and when he made us, it was without the capability to fly. No matter how much I wanted to fly, I found I was incapable. It simply wasn't God's will I fly.
Many things in life are just like that. I can think of things I may want to do, I might desire to pursue, but the reality is that all I do is bound by God's will. Some things simply are not available to me because God has not granted it. This passage reminds me that an unwise arrogance is found within me if I assert for myself things God has not granted.
It is God who has ultimate sovereign control of all that happens within the bounds of his creation. He is transcendent beyond the desires or plans of any among us. When I find myself purposing anything, I need to consider what James has to say here.
I am reminded of Paul's observation, "it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." Philippians 2:13.
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
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