How I Think God Works

 

How I Think God Works

Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

1 Kings 22:20 “And the Lord said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will persuade him.22 And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.”

Genesis 2:16 “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

     God gives choices.  Like America the land of plenty.  Ask an immigrant from a poorer country, grocery stores are overwhelming.  Choice!  Five different kinds of raisin bran.  Brand competition drives the labels in outrageous colors and marketing gimmicks.  A great tornado trying to suck money out of the purse of the impulsive buyer.  That’s manipulation.  God doesn’t work that way.

     God is no respecter of persons.  That is in His justice. He does respect us in our individual sovereignty. He upholds our dignity.  Although He is Ultimate Commander, He does not squelch us like North Korean military conformity. God indeed gives us a free will.

     If we are cable of no good of ourselves, how do we make positive decisions?  God, I think, is the great thought dropper.  In Philippians, we understand God is at work in us.  In 1 Kings, He outright asks for a spirit to volunteer.  Good thoughts come from God.  We take the responsibility of going for or against His plan.

     Is God so big that He could have found another Joseph and Mary?  Maybe a Josh and Marybell.  Could He have worked with man to prophecy of different times to come?  Yes, God in His foreknowledge, but that still doesn’t make man robots in His timeline.  God is the Conductor able to change tempo and composition in mid score.  He is that good.

     My wife used to give the kids choices that they may learn autonomy.  Good, better, or best?  Peanut butter to a healthier meat and cheese sandwich.  God’s responsibility is to train His children.  Since all effects come from choices, He works there.  As His children, we have given Him permission to influence us.    Together we start there.

 

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