JOHN 15:1-2 – “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”
THEME OF THE DAY: SUBMITTING TO GOD’S PROVIDENCE. Perhaps we should begin by defining “God’s providence.” It certainly isn’t the capital of the state I live in, though God does “own” Providence, Rhode Island. Our confession of faith defines God’s providence as God the good Creator of all things, in His infinite power and wisdom does uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures and things, from the greatest even to the least, by His most wise and holy providence, to the end for the which they were created, according unto His infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of His own will; to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, infinite goodness, and mercy. The key to understanding this truth is in the first sentence – God the good Creator of all things, in His infinite power and wisdom does uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures and things, from the greatest even to the least, by His most wise and holy providence. Basically, God controls everything in all things including our lives.
Now, I want to get out of the norm for today’s nugget. I would like to introduce you to one of my favorite 17th century Puritans – Samuel Rutherford. He was a great theologian, pastor, and suffered a great deal for the cause of Christ. The article below is taken from his book The Loveliness of Christ which is available today for purchase. Rutherford writes based on today’s scripture and God’s providence.
The great Master Gardener in his wonderful providence has planted me in this part of his vineyard by his grace and here I grow and abide till the great Master of the vineyard thinks it fit to transplant me. Give him leave to take his own way of dispensations with you. His people must be content with what he carves out for them. Christ and his followers suffered before they reached the top of the mountain, but our soft nature desires heaven with ease. All who have gone before have found sharp storms that took the hide off their face, and many enemies in the way. His ways are far above me, with windings we cannot see. Obstacles are written in the Lord’s book by his wise and unerring providence. We see only the outside of things. It is a well-spent journey to crawl hands and feet to enjoy him at the well-head. Let us not be weary; we are closer than when we first believed. Do not focus your thoughts among the confused wheels of secondary causes, as – ‘O if this had been, this had not followed!’ Look up to the master motion of the first wheel. In building, we see hewn stones and timbers under hammers and axes, yet the house in its beauty we do not see at the present, but it is in the mind of the builder. We also see unbroken clods, furrows, and stones, but we do not see the summer lilies, roses, and the beauty of a garden. Even so we do not presently see the outcome of God’s decrees with his blessed purpose. It is hard to believe when his purpose is hidden and under the ground. Providence has a thousand keys to deliver his own even when all hope is gone. Let us be faithful and care for our own part, which is to do and suffer for him, and lay Christ’s part on himself, and leave it there; duties are ours, events are the Lord’s.
PRAYER: “Father, help me to gladly submit to all Your dealings with me, especially the painful ones.”
QUOTE: “God’s ways are often hard and mysterious, but they are always good, wise, and in love.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim