TRUST IN THE FATHER'S GOOD PLAN
D.A. Carson, in his excellent commentary on John’s gospel, relates the story of one 3rd century philosopher, Porphyry, who sneered at what he viewed as the inability of Jesus in these verses to make us mind. Did Jesus misstep or fail to make up His mind? No. Quite the contrary. Here before us is not an undecided mind but is instead a mind “made up”. That is a mind resolved to only follow the Father’s guidance in all things at all times (John 5:19).
As always then, a real, rather than superficial, study of Jesus shows us how to live and what kind of person we should always be endeavoring to become. He is eternally worthy of our imitation and a quick look at John 7:1-13 gives us one reason among millions.
Notice here that He only goes when the Father says it is time for Him to go. He only speaks what the Father has given Him to speak—regardless of the opposition incurred. He does not move according to human timetables built on unbelief or acquisition of fame for fame’s sake. All fame, all acclaim is for the Father’s sake.
Part of living like Jesus is learning to trust in the Father’s good plan every step of the way and to seek His glory above all else.
As always then, a real, rather than superficial, study of Jesus shows us how to live and what kind of person we should always be endeavoring to become. He is eternally worthy of our imitation and a quick look at John 7:1-13 gives us one reason among millions.
Notice here that He only goes when the Father says it is time for Him to go. He only speaks what the Father has given Him to speak—regardless of the opposition incurred. He does not move according to human timetables built on unbelief or acquisition of fame for fame’s sake. All fame, all acclaim is for the Father’s sake.
Part of living like Jesus is learning to trust in the Father’s good plan every step of the way and to seek His glory above all else.
by Craig Lester
Posted in Read Through the Bible
Related Posts
Recent
Archive
2021
January
THE SIN OF WITHHOLDINGABRAM, THE MAN OF FAITH???HEEDING THE VOICE OF THE LORDA RELATIONSHIP OF FAITHNAMES ON A LISTREMEMBERAND THERE HE BLESSED HIM... Gen. 32:29GOD IS IN CONTROL AND WE CAN TRUST HIMROAD TO RECOVERYACCEPTING GOD'S GIFTSDOES YOUR 'BREATH' STINK?REMEMBER MY SERVANT JOBTHOUGHTS FROM JOBREAL CHRISTIANS NEVER APOLOGIZESECURE IN GOD'S HANDCOUNSELING "DON'T'S" FROM ELIHUTHE UNSEARCHABLE GREATNESS OF GOD
February
WE ARE A NEW CREATIONLORD, BE THE CENTERAS THE LORD HAS SAIDHARDENED HEARTSWHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR USJOY IN THE BELOVEDHAND-IN-HANDGIVE AS THE LORD PROMPTS YOUSACRIFICES AND OFFERINGSTHE DEATH OF NADAB AND ABIHUFLEE AND PURSUEHOLY LAMB OF GODAS A CHRISTIAN, DO THE COMMANDS IN LEVITICUS STILL APPLY TO ME TODAY?THE TITHE, HOLY TO THE LORD
March
I HAVE NO CHOICEUNBELIEF...IT MAKES SENSEJESUS AND THE BRONZE SNAKEAPPALLED BY SINREMEMBERING WHAT GOD HAS DONEOBEDIENCE & DISOBEDIENCETHOUGHTS ON THE PASSOVERBE PROUD OF YOUR KING...UNLESS HE'S A PROUD KINGIF - THENHEART AND SOULWHAT IFTHE 'EYES' HAVE IT!FINISHING WELLLETTING PEOPLE KNOW YOU BELONG TO CHRISTPUT DOWN YOUR PENCILS
2020
April
WORDS AND DEEDSAM I JUSTIFIED?A STATE OF CONSTANT READINESSPSALM 79 IS ABOUT ME AND YOU TOOFEELINGSTHE SLUGGARD AND THE DILIGENTTHE PHARISEE AND THE TAX COLLECTOR - WHICH ONE AM I?WHAT WEEDS ARE IN YOUR GARDEN?I ACCEPTGET A HEART OF WISDOMPANDEMIC PARALYSISDON'T HAVE TIME TO READ A BOOK? LISTEN TO AN AUDIOBOOK AND MULTI-TASK!GOD, OUR GODA CALL TO HOLINESS
May
LAMENT AND PRAISEINTIMACYREMEMBER THE LORDGOD'S PROVIDENCE IN RUTHHE BROUGHT HIS PEOPLE OUT WITH JOYTELL THE GOOD NEWSTHE TROUBLES OF OUR HEARTSTRUST IN THE FATHER'S GOOD PLANPRAY AND BLESSWHEN TRUSTING GOD IS THE ONLY OPTIONTO THOSE WHO WAIT UPON THE LORD...TO "SHEEP OR NOT TO SHEEP"TRUST IN THE LORDTHE MYSTERY OF THE SEEDA small thing that is a BIG DEAL!A CRAZY STATEMENTHAVE YOU TURNED THE LIGHT ON?
June
CROSSROADS IN MARRIAGETHE PURSUIT OF WISDOM LEADS TO LIFEIN THE NAME OF JESUS "WALK!"It is NOT PersonalARROWSREVEAL GOD TO THE WORLDMERCY AND RENEWED HOPEI DON'T UNDERSTANDHOW TO BE AN EVERYDAY MISSIONARYGIVE THANKS TO THE LORDFOOLS ARE STUPIDI LOVE YOUARISE O LORD!THE MOUNTAINS OF GODWHAT DO YOU WANT MORE?USE YOUR VOICE
July
GOD'S WORD - OUR TREASURECONTEMPTGOD HEARS US EVEN WHEN WE GROAN#23 PERSONAL TESTIMONYO LORD, OUR LORDSUCCESSFUL MARRIAGES ARE VICIOUSLY COMPETITIVETHE UNLIKELY GAME CHANGERCHASING THE WINDLAZY RIVER OR PRODUCTIVE BLVD: IT IS YOUR CHOICEGIVING FROM GOD'S SOURCEPSALM 17: THE ANTIDOTE TO FEARTHERE'S NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SINTHE WONDERFUL LOVE OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHERWHOEVER SAYS, 'YOU FOOL'MODEL JESUS LIFE FOR YOUR CHILDRENCHILDREN & STUDENT MINISTRIESLOVE ONE ANOTHER ROMANS 13:8POWER
August
LIGHT IN THE DARKNESSFROM WHERE THEN IS YOUR HOPE?WAIT ON THE LORDMY ROCK AND MY SHEPHERDBETTER THAN I DESERVEWELCOMEDID YOU WAKE UP SAD THIS MORNING?THE LORD'S PLANSMAKING IT CLEARMARRIAGE ISN'T THAT GREATANOTHER TIME AND ANOTHER PLACEEXCEEDING RIGHTEOUSNESSIt's ALL Your Fault!GOD'S DOWN PAYMENTTHE LIFE-GIVING AROMAWHAT HAVE YOU SEEN?
September
October
HE KEEPS US!TELL THEM!HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE YOUR CONVERSATION?ARE YOU ASLEEP?PRAYING WITH A LASER FOCUS ... I LIKE TO CALL IT "PRAY FIRST"NEEDED: CHURCH DOORKEEPERSGOD'S WARNINGSOPPOSITIONTHE THING ABOUT PROMISESBUILD THE WALL!SPIRITUAL BATTLEGENUINE FAITHCHRIST'S SELF-SACRIFICESAVED BY GRACEJESUS OUR REDEEMER
November
December
OUR MAJESTIC GODLOVE YOUR BROTHERA TREE AND ITS FRUITLORD, THANK YOU FOR CORRECTION!SLOW TO SPEAK AND SLOW TO ANGERTHE CRY FOR MERCY. THE CRY FOR FORGIVENESS.WHEN GOD BEGAN KILLING THEMDON'T WORSHIP DUMB STUFFGOD'S PATIENCE AND OUR HOPETHE DAY OF SALVATIONWHEN WILL THEY LEARN?WHAT IS WRONG WITH THEM?THE LOCKED DOOR OF THE VICTIMPRAISE TO THE LORDPRAISE GOD FOR 2020
No Comments