My Daily Pause

Last night a group from my church and some guests from some other congregations sat down together and read Genesis. This is our no discussion, no commentary group reading I’ve written about before. We call it Biblepalooza to contrast our love for God’s word against the worldly activities that use up our time. These long sessions always take me through a new depth of understanding that I have never experienced before.

A quilt has hundreds of seems and edges pieced together for a single beautiful pattern

Last night I saw God’s plan unfold. It was almost like stepping back and looking at the big picture beside God.

Despite the efforts to tear down and defile God’s creation, he showed us over and over again that his will is going to win out in the end. Even to the extent of using evil men, God can make good come out of even the worst of situations. (Genesis 50:20)

When we take a Christian look at current events, it is easy to get shaken up. Sometimes we even ask, what has happened to “God’s people?” Our view might be described as that from the underside of a patchwork quilt. The rough edges of the seams, the hanging threads and faded colors do not do justice to the beauty on the other side.

Ecclesiastes 3 helps us understand a few things:

• Man cannot circumvent God’s time and seasons
• Man should accept that God’s will is beyond his control
• Everything has a purpose in God’s scheme
• Sometimes it is good to pull back and look at things from the perspective of eternity

It is God’s intent to use us in his kingdom. He wants us out there teaching and being an example as close to Christ-like as we can humanly be. (2 Timothy 2:2, Philippians 4:9) His plan will be complete in his time. It is good to know that the path we are on right now might have something to do with that.

Daily Bible reading for July 6

Ecclesiastes 3:9-22
Joshua 4
Zephaniah 3:9-20
Matthew 15

1 But Elisha said, “Hear the word of the Lord: thus says the Lord, Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.”2 Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned said to the man of God, “If the Lord himself should make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” But he said, “You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.” – 2 Kings 7:1-2 ESV

Our Lord has asked us to pray for what we need Matthew 7:7, and Paul tell us God is very generous to those who remember to call upon him (Romans 10:12).

Have you ever felt like he doesn’t hear you? Better yet, have you ever realized a prayer was answered in a way you hadn’t planned?

Here are just a couple of things about prayer we can observe in our Bibles:

• There are three ways a prayer can be answered. Yes. No. Wait.
• The answer may not always be a in neat package.
• God expects us to trust him.

Read how God provided food for his people in an extraordinary way (2 Kings 6:24-7:20) and then meditate today about how God has impacted you when least expected.

“But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4: 19)

This scripture has been referred to as the “Christian’s bank note.”  It speaks of assurance, providence and care!

The president of the Bank – “My God.” Paul could say “my God” because of his personal experience.  It’s evident that there is a vast difference between knowing of someone and truly knowing that person.  He is “my God” only when I am “His child.”  I possess Him only when He possesses me.  Note the possessive, personal pronouns throughout scripture.  In addition, all God promises to do for the world, for humanity, can be claimed by our own personal pronoun- “For God so loved me that He gave His only begotten son…” The God of heaven and earth is “my God.”

The Promise to Pay – “Shall Supply.” The word “supply” here is translated from the same word translated “full” in the previous verse.  Our cup “runs over.”  Paul said the same thing in a more emphatic way to the Ephesians, “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.” (3: 20) What a wonderful reality!  God will do immeasurably more than we can ever even dream of.

The amount – “All Your Need.” Not all your wants, but all your needs.  This calls for a joyous trust and confidence in God.  Our needs, both spiritual and material, will be supplied.  Do we really believe that?  Has God not shown that to us time and time again? Jesus said, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?….If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe  you?  O you of little faith.  So do not worry…”  (Matthew 6: 26,30,31) “Trust me,” God is saying!

The Capital of the Bank – “According to His Riches in Glory.” There is never any capital shortage with God.  His treasure house is as inexhaustible and boundless as His infinite love and grace.  The words “rich” and “riches” appear six times in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians:  “In Him we have…the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us…” (1: 7,8), “the riches of His glorious inheritance…” (1: 18), “God, who is rich in mercy…” (2: 4), “the incomparable riches of His grace…” (2: 7), “the unsearchable riches of Christ…” (3: 8), and “I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being.” (3: 16) Oh, what riches God has for us.

The Cashier’s Name – “Christ Jesus.” Through Jesus, our Savior, these great and inexhaustible blessings flow.  All blessings come through Christ Jesus, through our union with Him!  “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘yes’ in Christ. And so through Him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.” (2 Cor. 1: 20)

No wonder Paul broke forth in the ascription of praise: “Unto our God and Father be the glory for ever and ever. Amen”

Charles Cash