Weekly Devotional 7-31-17
Confirmation of our Devotional “Blame Wrongly Placed.”
On June 26, 2017 we posted a Devotional naming it, “Blame Wrongly Placed” in which we implied that one needs to be careful in blaming God for all that happens to people, including accidents. We wrote that accidents are just that, accidents. Then recently, concerning this assertion, I received a question from a brother in the Lord about our statement about accidents, ‘that that is just what they are, accidents’, How does this line up with Matthew 10: 29-30 and Romans 8:28?”
Turning to the text of Matthew 10:29-30 (NKJV), we find that Jesus was about to send the twelve apostles into the field (to Israel). This was to give them experience in evangelism starting with the people of their own nation, Israel. Beginning at verse 16, we read; “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. 17But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. 18You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. 21Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 22And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. 23When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 24A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! 26Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. 27Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. 28And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”
We note that it was acknowledged in this dispatch that the apostles would suffer persecutions and other difficulties; not necessarily at the hands of the Lord. Nor did he promise to protect them from these things, but that as God was aware of that which befell each of His creatures, He would also be aware of those things that they would suffer. They were to have the understanding that no matter what they faced, God would be aware of said things. Nowhere in the text is it implied that He would cause these things. On the contrary, abuse and persecution would come from unregenerate persons.
As to Romans 8:28, we must keep in mind that that is a single verse from a context (Romans 8:1-39) where the lives of the righteous and unrighteous persons are contrasted. Concerning the righteous, Paul wrote; “18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.” 23Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. 26Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. 31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Nowhere in the entire chapter, nor from these selected verses, is it implied that God causes any of the calamities mentioned. Rather, the passage affirms that God is working on the behalf of the Christian to bring about the Christian’s good; conforming him to the image of Jesus Christ, God the Son. All of this to say that God is certainly aware of all that happens in a Christian’s life, and is working for the good of said person, but as written in our previous devotional dated 6-26-17, about “Blame Wrongly Placed.” To blame God for any of the calamities of life, accidents, disruptions of nature, diseases or war is a road that we should not take.
But praise be to God. He is sovereign, overseeing and ruling over all of creation. He has promised a better future life for all those who come to faith in Him. What He expects and what He demands of us in this life is that we honor and glorify Him no matter our circumstances.
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Transforming Power; The Work of God on Behalf of Man
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