Acts 15:17b-18
[James speaking, quoting from Amos 9:12] " '...who does these things that have been known for ages.' "
Thoughts for Today:
Read that verse one more time, "who does these things that have been known for ages." In other words, God tells us what He's going to do and then He does it. Why does God do things that way? I think it's because He's letting us know He is in control and we are not. We can try as we might to study, analyze, graph, chart, or calculate probabilities; but we will never truly understand the great mysteries of our planet or life itself, unless we first look to the creator (God) rather than the creation (our own intellect).
Eight years ago, I was going through a very difficult business cycle, one that was so deep and profound I didn't know if my business (or I for that matter) would survive it. Many of you guys out there will know exactly what I'm saying when I tell you a lot of my identity (who I am) was connected to the success of my business and career. I have to admit I was tempted (as a good businessman) to negotiate a settlement with the Lord: "If you rescue me from this crisis I will be more generous with my money, I will be more regular in my attendance to church, etc." Those things seemed a small price to pay for my survival and success. In war they say there are no atheists in foxholes, and I was definitely in a fight for survival, so I was willing to do just about anything. I had been a Christian for a long time, but I had never truly given over the leadership of my life to Jesus -- I always wanted to remain in control. God gave me an event that was so devastating to everything I tho! ught was important, that I had no choice but to begin a negotiation.
However, God is a very good negotiator; He offered His yoke and burden in exchange for mine: all or nothing, no hold backs; and I took the deal. I gave Him my will, life, marriage, family, career and business. I gave Him my pride, pressure, ambition, experience, bills and responsibilities -- He gave me the fullness of His Son. Words do not adequately describe my sense of relief. I want you to understand something, this was not the first time I had said, "Here Lord, you can have it all!" The difference was this was the first time I really meant it.
The Lord was no longer the co-pilot of my life; He became the pilot. He was no longer a business consultant; He now had become the chief executive officer and majority stockholder of my business. I developed a stewardship mentality: "What am I going to do today with the gifts and talents God gave me?" I listened to my boss, the Lord, and I did what He told me: minute by minute, day by day, year after year.
Now, eight years later, the industry I am a part of is going through another pretty devastating cycle. The difference is that our company is now the "poster child" of preparedness, structure, and financial strength. Fellow business people have marveled at our wisdom and foresight, "It's almost like you knew exactly what and when it was going to happen, it's amazing!"
I give all praise and honor to God, because I know that I am simply His humble servant. I don't know at this writing if my business will survive (I certainly hope and think it will). But the one thing I do know is I am fully submitted to the Lord's will. What that means to me is to work really hard at whatever the Lord gives me to do, each and every day, and let Him be responsible for the result. That is true stress relief. The knowledge that God is the only one in control, after all it is only He "who does these things that have been known for ages."
Questions to Ponder:
Who is in control of your life, you or God? How much stress are you under, a little or a lot? Whose burdens do you carry, yours or the Lord's? Have you sincerely given your life to Christ? Are you holding anything back? Do you take control back when things are going well? Do you need a crisis to find the right perspective? Choose today to yield control, in every area of your life, to God. Watch for what He will begin to do?
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