Our Good, His Glory Revisited

God has two purposes in His plan, our good and His glory. We need never think that He does not know what we are going through. He does! He himself experienced life in human flesh. John 11:22 says, "When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled." (NIV)

"And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14 (NASB)

"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." Philippians 2:5-8 (NASB)

God is at work in this world, and His plan is to make us into His image. We don't need to be discouraged that things aren't working out the way we want them to. We can trust that God's plan is for our good and for His glory, even if we can't understand it right now. He will be with us on the journey. And when we have been transformed into His image, all glory and honor and power are His. I am thankful that He chooses to share this with us!

"And the glory which Thou hast given Me I have given to them; that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, that the world may know that Thou didst send Me, and didst love them, even as Thou didst love Me." John 17:22-23

"But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. And it was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 (NASB)

Consider the story of Joseph. Things never looked like they were for his good, but Joseph just kept putting one foot in front of the other, moving forward in God's direction, trying to do His will. When Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery (Genesis 37:27-28), he ended up in Egypt. Joseph had dreams and interpreted dreams, eventually finding his way into the house of Pharaoh being second in charge in all the land. Because Joseph put God first in all things, he was crowned with success, but not to bring glory to Joseph. Joseph was part of God's plan to protect His people from the famine that had entered the land. God's plan was bigger than the circumstances and Joseph knew that he was exactly where God wanted him to be.

So Joseph told his brothers when they came to Egypt to ask for food and realized that their brother was in charge, "Do not be afraid, for am I in God's place? And as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. So therefore, do not be afraid." Genesis 50:19-21 (NASB)

We also can be assured that if we are seeking Him and putting Him first in all things and loving him with all of our heart, and soul, and mind, and strength, He will accomplish His purposes in us. He will accomplish them even when we don't see how He could possibly do it.

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren." Romans 8:28-29 (NASB)

Dear Lord, If I could just trust your plan for my life, I would walk in Your peace continually. Please help me to trust You with everything knowing that You have me exactly where You want me to be.

Image courtesy of Photobucket.com.

Originally posted April 10th, 2010.

Have You ever asked Yourself, "Why Me?"

I was struck recently while watching a Barbara Walters special;  I was struck by the question she posed to a family with a little girl suffering with a genetic disorder called Progeria.  She calmly asked the parents if they ever asked themselves, "Why me?"  The Mother answered resolutely, "God gave us this little girl because He knew that we could handle it.  Someone else might not have been able to handle it."  The amount of love that those parents lavished on their tiny daughter was astounding and consequently, the love that shown from their tiny daughter's eyes reflected the love of her parents.

Have you ever asked yourself, "Why Me?"  Most of us have at one time or another.  When difficulties come our way, or disease or death, we often wonder, "Why did this have to happen to me?"  I once heard it said that it was not a matter of "if" tragedy would come into your life, but rather "when".  The question is how will you respond?  Will you respond with bitterness and complaint?  Or will you respond with gratefulness and singing, praising the Lord your God who gives and takes away, knowing that He causes all things to work together for the good of those that love Him and are called according to His purpose?

Isaiah 35

Joy of the Redeemed

 ¹ The desert and the parched land will be glad;
       the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
       Like the crocus, ² it will burst into bloom;
       it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
       The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
       the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
       they will see the glory of the LORD,
       the splendor of our God.  ³ Strengthen the feeble hands,
       steady the knees that give way;
 ⁴ say to those with fearful hearts,
       "Be strong, do not fear;
       your God will come,
       he will come with vengeance;
       with divine retribution
       he will come to save you."
 ⁵ Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
       and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
 ⁶ Then will the lame leap like a deer,
       and the mute tongue shout for joy.
       Water will gush forth in the wilderness
       and streams in the desert.
 ⁷ The burning sand will become a pool,
       the thirsty ground bubbling springs.
       In the haunts where jackals once lay,
       grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.
 ⁸ And a highway will be there;
       it will be called the Way of Holiness.
       The unclean will not journey on it;
       it will be for those who walk in that Way;
       wicked fools will not go about on it.
 ⁹ No lion will be there,
       nor will any ferocious beast get up on it;
       they will not be found there.
       But only the redeemed will walk there,
 ¹⁰ and the ransomed of the LORD will return.
       They will enter Zion with singing;
       everlasting joy will crown their heads.
       Gladness and joy will overtake them,
       and sorrow and sighing will flee away.  (NIV)

WHEN I compare 
What I have lost with what I have gained, 
What I have missed with what attained, 
Little room do I find for pride. 

I am aware 
How many days have been idly spent; 
How like an arrow the good intent 
Has fallen short or been turned aside. 

But who shall dare 
To measure loss and gain in this wise? 
Defeat may be victory in disguise; 
The lowest ebb is the turn of the tide. 

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Dear Lord, Thank You for Your place on the throne of my life.  Thank You that although I don't always understand why things happen they way that they do, You have a purpose and a plan that can be trusted completely...