THE CHURCH: Are You Confused at Times?

45 Days of Praying for the Elections - DAY 29

The choices of God are often very unpredictable and not easily discerned because the counsel of His will is so different from the way we naturally think. Throughout the teachings of the Scriptures, we see that God’s ways are never encapsulated by what we want, prefer, think or even see with our eyes. Our present passage for meditation again affirms the truth that there is a vast difference between the wisdom of God and the wisdom of man. The way God often reveals His wisdom to us is that it appears opposite of our natural thinking, which our present passage calls, “wise according to the flesh”. It is a paradox in that what is unlikely to us is often where God has chosen to likely do His will. The second epistle of Corinthians, Paul said that God allowed a messenger of Satan to trouble Him so that he would remain humble and learn the wisdom of God that when we are weak can God’s strength be seen in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:1-10). This is the same pattern in our present text. God has chosen people and things that to the natural carnal reasoning appear to be foolish to confound (shame) the wise. If you follow the progression. He has chosen the weak, base, despised, and that which is regarded as nothing to manifest them into somethings. So that He can show Himself as wiser, greater, and due all glory for the grace of unlimited power in the affairs of this world.

The saving of all kinds of sinners through the cross of Christ is the premier example of His unlimited wisdom and power working beyond the limits of our human wisdom. It is for this reason that the Scriptures say, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out” (Romans 11:33). It is also the greatness of His wisdom that He uses all kinds of sinners for His purposes within the counsels of His sovereign will being carried out. This is critical in the limited perspectives we can have in our judgments about what we see or think about people. Theologian and author, John Phillips makes this point from his observations through the Book of Judges. He writes, “God used a left handed man (3:21), He used Shamgar with an ox-goad (3:31), He used a woman to carry out judgment on Sisera with a tent peg (4:21), He used a woman to kill Abimelech with a millstone (9:53), He used a fearful man, and an outnumbered army to victory with lamps and trumpets (6;7), He used an undisciplined and disobedient Nazarite for victory with a jawbone of a mule (15:16)”. Throughout Scripture He has used people like Nebuchadnezzar as an instrument to chasten His people. He anointed Cyrus a Persian king as His instrument to deliver His people Israel (Isaiah 45:1). The church was even skeptical of God choosing and using Saul of Tarsus, a murderer and persecutor of Christians (Acts 9:11-16).

In this season where we find ourselves needing to lay hold to God’s will and ways, there are several things we must embrace as we make decisions as we seek to please God. We must not forget that God is actively working in this world, and He wants to use us to help make His work evident in this world (Philippians 2:11-16). Never forget we are His voice in this world and called to expose the issues of darkness through all righteous means available (Ephesians 5:7-12). It is a challenge for many of us because it is hard to see God’s ways more clearly because we are inundated with the bombardment of worldly information, and it effects and hinders our discernment of God. So many of us that profess to be Christians think so differently from the truths of God’s Word on so many major issues of life. We must also seek God and ask Him to reveal His ways and thoughts unto us. Since God’s ways are not our ways and God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, we can ask Him to reveal His thoughts to us. According to His invitation in Jeremiah 33:3, “Call to Me, and I will answer and show you great and unsearchable things which you do not know,” it is necessary for Him to show us these things we need to know to be obedient to what He expects of us. Let Him show you how and where He is working and when He does, join Him and support what He is doing. God has said to us, “Trust Me with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Me and I will direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5 ,6).

God has used so many people that are not popular by the world’s standards, but did great
things for God despite a low standing with the world. John the Baptist was not well educated, well dressed or accepted as normal among many, but because he was faithful to the choice of God upon His life, Jesus said of him, “Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not been born none greater than John the Baptist, yet he that is but little in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” (Matthew 11:11)

Let us ask God to show us and then listen to Him to guide us?
Let us use what we know and have heard from Scripture to guide our thinking?
Let us be honest with ourselves about the “why” for our choices?

Prayer: Father, show us how we are to align ourselves in this world according to what You are doing and show us what to do. This election reveals where we are with You, though it is just another issue we face in this world wanting to be faithful to You. Help us not to follow what the world says, especially not with hearts of hate and contempt that conflicts with Your righteous ways. We will be mindful to give thanks and praise. In Jesus Name, amen.
By Pastor Wayne Cockrell