Another Tuesday, and another chapter of Ken Sande's book The Peacemaker. I continue to take great comfort in knowing that the leadership of Faith Baptist Church is reading this book. The author has put together a tremendous systematic theology on resolving conflicts in a person's life. In chapter three Ken discusses trusting God. It is wonderful to know we serve a God who is both all-powerful, and good. These two sentences from pg 63 are my favorites, "The fact that God is good does not mean that He will insulate us from all suffering. Rather, it means He will be with us in our suffering and accomplish good through it (Isaiah 43:2-3)."
I'm asking God to help the members of Faith Baptist to trust Him in trials and conflicts. Trust in His power. Trust in His goodness. Trust in His wisdom.
Quotations are from: The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict, Ken Sande (Baker Books, 3d ed., 2003). Peacemaker® Ministries. www.Peacemaker.net.
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit"
Matthew 28:19 KJV
Matthew 28:19 KJV
Faith Baptist Blog
Calendar
|
September '10 |
|
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa | Su |
| Tuesday, September 07. 2010 | ||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | |||
Categories
Blog Administration
That pretty much sums up this chapter. When we 'let' God be in control of our lives, we don't need to worry, just lean on him, follow him, and trust him to lead you through the mountains and the valleys.
There are many examples of this concept in God's Word. The greatest example might well be that of Jesus facing the Cross and saying to God the Father, "May your will be done".
God is in COMPLETE control of everything that happens, and at times He allows suffering and sin even though He has the power to stop it. And even though God is in control, WE are still responsible for our own actions. God also allows us to experience things which we find unpleasurable so that we will be able to minister to others who are also going thru what we did.
It is OK to have questions, doubts and fears; but we must remember to continue to trust God. When we are involved in a conflict, it is our decision whether to trust God or not; whether to do it God's way or our own way. We need to do it God's way!
Just recently I had one of those days when all I wanted to do was sit down and ask why did God allow all these things to pile up on me in one day. Then in my reading chapter 3 of The Peace Makers I found Ken referencing Romans 5:3-4, 1 Corinthians 10:13, and James 1:2-4. "Count it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" (James 1:2-4). We may never know what the end of anything we daily face may be, but we can rest assured it is for our becoming more like Christ, and better equipped to rely upon and use God's assistance in handling our trials.
The wonderful thing about working through the Peace Makers program is that it is not just about dealing with conflict but it provides such down to earth ways to again see how wonderfully God has provided all we need to live our lives in complete obedience to His eternal will, and plan for our lives.
Still asking God to mold me...
Jerry Brown
I liked the statement on page 65:
"Trusting God means that in spite of our questions, doubts, and fears, we draw on His grace and continue to believe that He is loving, that He is in control, and that He is always working for our good. Such trust helps us to continue doing what is good and right, even in difficult circumstances".
I was also struck again by the passage in Ezekiel 33:17:
"Yet your countryman say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' But it is their way that is not just. If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, he will die for it. And if a wicked man turns away from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he will live by doing so. Yet, O house of Israel, you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.'"
We are so focused on what is right in front of us, the immediate, that we seldom stop to remember that God has forgiven us our sin, removed the eternal punishment that we deserve, and provided for us an eternal residence in heaven alongside Himself. Shifting our focus and trusting God allows us to see conflict and difficulties as more of an opportunity for God to mold and shape us into the person He wants us to be, and an opportunity for us to be involved in God's work – to give him the glory.