Sunday, November 25, 2012

Will God 'Come Through' For Me?



In dark, difficult times I wonder:  will God 'comes through' for me?  Is God truly enough, or is more needed? Scripture promises that God is enough; more is not needed.  Why?  Because God is incredibly generous and giving, in spite of doubts and 'feelings to the contrary. ' The central validation of God's giving character for the Apostle Paul is found in God’s gift of Jesus.  God did not keep back his own Son” – Paul writes in Romans 8 -- but he gave him for us. If God did this, won’t he freely give us everything else?” (Romans 8:32, Contemporary English Version).  Notice Paul doesn’t say God gives sparingly; Paul says God gives  everything. 

Sadly, a lot of don’t visualize a generous God, looking elsewhere for generosity and power; but look no further: our God gives in big ways!  There’s a great story about a little boy who went to a neighborhood store with his mother. Well in due course, the store owner, an older man, opened up a large jar of candy: ‘reach in and help yourself!,’ he said to the boy.  But surprise, surprise:  the boy got bashful and backed away.  And with that, the store owner, reached in and pulled out a biggest handful of candy ever, giving the candy to the kid.  Outside the store, the mother was incredulous.  “Son, why did you back away and get so bashful; I’ve never seen you do that before?”  “Oh, that’s easy Mom! Didn’t you notice? That’s guy’s hands -- were a whole lot bigger -- than mine!!!”  So too for God’s hands; they’re a whole lot bigger than ours!  That’s why we can trust God in our greatest hour of need.   

One of my favorite examples of God’s generosity is Prophet Elijah.  Why Elijah was constantly in need, and God constantly provided in the most creative, giving ways.  Why in I Kings 17:6 – God provides for Elijah by sending ravens.  And “…the ravens brought [Elijah] bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening…”  (1 Kings 17:6).  In 1 Kings 17:15-16 God provides for Elijah by sending the widow at Zarephath as food materializes “…every day for Elijah… [with] the jar of flour [never] used up and the jug of oil [never running] dry…”  (1 Kings 17:15-16).  But it gets better.  In 1 Kings 19:5-6 God provides for Elijah by sending an angel.  And the angel touched Elijah -- in his weakest hour, I might add -- and said, ‘Get up and eat.  [And Elijah] looked around and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals [no less!] and a jar of water…”  (I Kings 19:5-6).  Amazing!  But that’s our God providing for our needs in multi-faceted – ingenious – bountiful -- ways.   And so don’t think of God as withholding and stingy; think of God as multi-faceted – ingenious – bountiful; look for ravens – widows – angels – God’s representatives – to provide nourishment – to provide victory – at just the right hour, in just the right way.   

But here's the rub:  we don't control the hour or way; God controls the hour and way.  But be assured:  God's never late, delivering the bounty we need in strategic, savvy fashion.  A. B. Simpson says it best:  God “… [gives us]…great fortune, [overtime, placing] thousands and millions at [our disposal] -- but He [gives us the check] book with…one condition -- "You [can] never draw more than you need… [But know] every time a [check’s needed, it’s freely given, creatively]…in [Jesus]…name… [who always provides…]”  

For God’s provision is bountiful – cutting through any challenge – any tragedy – any giant!  And so:  develop a triumphant mindset, conquering all things through Christ.!   I mean Paul is emphatic in declaring that in all things “….we are more than conquerors through [the God] who loved us [through Jesus]…”  (Romans 8:37).  And so Paul ‘just says it’:  “…I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels, nor demons, neither the present nor the future nor any powers neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the [resources of God] the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord…”  (Romans 8:38-39).   

It’s interesting the phrase:  “…I am convinced…” (Romans 8:38) means literally: I am sure; translated:  ‘I know, that I know, that I know!’   And so God wants us convinced -- sure -- to ‘know, that we know, that we know’ – that He can cut through and conquer anything.

And so will God 'come through' for me?  Yes, God will 'come through' for all of us, triumphant over 'all things' -- no matter the difficulty -- obstacle -- or need!

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