Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

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Tag: God in control

Sovereignty of God :: Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do

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On March 21, 2016

In Christian, Good Friday, Seven Sayings

Jesus’ first words from the Cross was “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” While many focus on the forgiveness part of this saying, it is important to recognize that the second part is equally important because it establishes the sovereignty of God. Unbeknownst to those who played a part in the crucifixion of Jesus, for whom Jesus sought forgiveness, was the fact, that it was God’s master plan for the redemption of mankind that the Son of God must shed his blood for the remission of mankind’s sin. God sovereignty comes out on top in the affairs of man, even in the crucifixion of Jesus for the Scripture was to be fulfilled as mentioned in the prophecy of Daniel, that they shall put the Anointed One to death (Daniel 9:26). While men played a mere part in God’s redemptive work, it was God who was not only the conductor but he was also in control of all that transpired that led to the crucifixion of Jesus. It was indeed God’s plan that Jesus should be made an offering for sin (Isaiah 53:10). While man intended to hurt Jesus and do him evil, God intended it all for good – the good of all mankind – to save all mankind (Genesis 50:20).

Points to ponder:
God is Sovereign and his word will always come true and while men may mean evil against you, God means it all for good (to save much people – made alive in Jesus Christ). In other words, the words of Jesus today ring – Father, forgive them, for you are Sovereign and all that you have planned shall come to pass, which the people do/may not know.

Luke 23:34 (KJV)
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Isaiah 53:10 (NLT)
10 But it was the LORD’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the LORD’s good plan will prosper in his hands.

The LORD, God of heaven, AND God of the earth

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On July 10, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

When Abraham asks his eldest servant to swear that he would find a wife for his son, Isaac, from his own kindred and not from the pagan Canaanites, he makes his servant swear by the LORD, God of heaven and God of the earth. Notice, how the expression of the LORD (Jehovah or Yahweh) explicitly calls out the LORD as God of heaven AND God of the earth. The Bible teaches us that heaven is God’s throne and earth his footstool (Isaiah 66:1; Acts 7:49), assuring not only of the magnanimity of God but his Sovereignty as well. God is God of heaven and of the earth.

Points to ponder:
Many unfortunately write off God as someone far off – in heaven – not present in the matters of men on earth and their lifestyle reflect the inaccurate motif of live for the present and deal with God when we get to him in heaven. This introduction of God by Abraham should be a warning for us to heed by. God is interested in the matters of men now, not sometime in the future. He is in Ruler and King on earth just as much as he is King and Ruler in heaven. In fact, he is Ruler over all things, in heaven, on earth and even under the earth (Philippians 2:10; Ephesians 1:22).

God is so much interested in our personal lives on earth just as he deals with matters in heaven. In fact his yearns that we pray that his KINGdom comes and that his will be done ON earth just as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). The LORD is God of heaven AND of the earth … the question that begs to be answered is – Is he the God of your life? In other words, have you trusted in Jesus and make him Ruler and King over all things in your life?

Genesis 24:3 (KJV)
3 And I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

It is time …

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On June 24, 2010

In Christian

The renowned author of the “7 habits of highly effective people”, Dr. Stephen Covey, dedicates a section of his best seller to time management as he expresses that highly effective people, put first things first. But even with the best of time management, many of us often complain that there is not enough or no time for the things we need to have done. We find ourselves to be incredibly busy. Partly this could be because we don’t put first things first; in other words, we don’t give our time, preeminence and priority to the people and things that matter most. But there is more to this than just time allocation. It is also about time control, and by this, I mean recognizing who is in control of our time. Most of us try to do all the things we need to get done, all on our own strength. We try to control time by our own strength and abilities. Herein lies the problem.

The Bible tells us that there is a time for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1) and that God makes everything beautiful in His time (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Notice, it is His time that matters, not ours. It is God who needs to be in control of our time. He has ordained twenty fours hours in a day for us, but that time is really His and when we recognize this and that we are merely stewards of His time, only then can we be highly effective for him. We need to be like the Psalmist who exclaimed “It is time for thee, Lord, to work” and trust that He will carry His work through our lives. Let us not continue to exhaust our time trying to work for our lives but instead let us give to God our time so that He can work in our lives. At this juncture, let us also recognize that when we submit our time to God for Him to work, let it be in totality. Say you ask painter to paint your portrait. Do you think that painter can output a beautiful work of art, if you keep grabbing the brush from the painter’s hand upon each brush stroke?  Likewise, once we give to God our time, let us not meddle in his work.

When we give to God our time, then the added benefit is that we have less time for ourselves and our selfish sinful desires and when He works in our lives, He always makes every thing beautiful (in His time).

Psalm 119:126a (KJV)
126 It is time for thee, LORD, to work: …

Ecclesiastes 3:11a (KJV)
11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time:

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