’. . . and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished.’ . . . But they understood none of these things . . . —Luke 18:31, 34
God called Jesus Christ to what seemed absolute disaster. And Jesus Christ called His disciples to see Him put to death, leading every one of them to the place where their hearts were broken. His life was an absolute failure from every standpoint except God’s. But what seemed to be failure from man’s standpoint was a triumph from God’s standpoint, because God’s purpose is never the same as man’s purpose.
This bewildering call of God comes into our lives as well. The call of God can never be understood absolutely or explained externally; it is a call that can only be perceived and understood internally by our true inner-nature. The call of God is like the call of the sea— no one hears it except the person who has the nature of the sea in him. What God calls us to cannot be definitely stated, because His call is simply to be His friend to accomplish His own purposes. Our real test is in truly believing that God knows what He desires. The things that happen do not happen by chance— they happen entirely by the decree of God. God is sovereignly working out His own purposes.
If we are in fellowship and oneness with God and recognize that He is taking us into His purposes, then we will no longer strive to find out what His purposes are. As we grow in the Christian life, it becomes simpler to us, because we are less inclined to say, “I wonder why God allowed this or that?” And we begin to see that the compelling purpose of God lies behind everything in life, and that God is divinely shaping us into oneness with that purpose. A Christian is someone who trusts in the knowledge and the wisdom of God, not in his own abilities. If we have a purpose of our own, it destroys the simplicity and the calm, relaxed pace which should be characteristic of the children of God.
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Journal DJR
Good Morning Lord. Wow, that last sentence really sums it up. This and yesterday’s devotional go together in summarizing the points you have been teaching us … that our higher purpose has little to do with money, things or worldly accomplishments and that your purpose can’t be discerned from psychological or business inventories but only thru connection with you and discerning with our inner spirits what it is that you would have us be about. And you’ve given us a “peace meter” which can be an indication of how we are walking in your plans for us.
“If we have a purpose of our own, it destroys the simplicity and the calm, relaxed pace which should be characteristic of the children of God.”
So, if we notice, or if our friends notice, or if our physician notices that we are stressed out….. it’s a pretty good indicator that we are somehow missing your best plan for us.
So, we’ve got a pretty good dashboard indicator or “idiot light” to let us know when we aren’t trusting in you alone or when we’ve overloaded ourselves with more than you’re calling us to. But once we realize it, getting out of that stress and overload trap, and staying out of it, has proven to be quite a challenge. I find it easy to backslide into the stressed out mode and find my mind wandering into my own interests and ideas…..
As you are learning, The solution is in the problem. Connection is the answer. Through connection, I will show you the way out of your stress right now … Come unto me and I will give you rest… and show you the way to live continually. As long as things are working in your own human power, you won’t “Come unto me” So when things fall apart and you get stressed out, see it as an invitation. An invitation to a better way of life. A life marked by “simplicity and the calm, relaxed pace which should be characteristic of the children of God.”
By the way, you mentioned falling back into thinking about “your ideas.” Where do you think those ideas come from? Especially in this, Connection, Curiosity and Expectation is the way to live. Invite me into all your thinking, yes, all of it, even those things you think I would be repulsed by. I will sort it out. Things that need to be left behind … I will guide you and help you and empower you when you “Come to me.” How well has gritting your teeth and making resolutions worked for you?
