Man Proposes, God Disposes

Good Afternoon Dear Saints,

This past Sunday, I had a nice long, dry, post-thanksgiving, coma-inducing turkey. I mean sermon... all prepared for you all on how God's Word prepares us for eternity. Then disaster struck! Well, actually, I was struck down by an annoying-some fever and cold early Sunday morning. So I got on the bat-phone and called my trusty right hand Doug and I asked him if he'd be willing to preach a 15-20 minute sermon that morning, just something simple to prepare the hearts of God's people for communion.

Instead, he delivered this excellent and powerful message on Psalm 95 (with only an hour of warning, mind you!). I was so proud of and thankful for him. Even though I was sick, God put the right words in the right mouth of the right man for the right people on the right morning at the right time. In other words, even though we were all caught off guard, God wasn't. And though I may have been ready with a sermon, God wanted another sermon heard on Sunday. And it was a good one. That's Providence.

I think sometimes we think that God's Providence is how he gets away with playing mean tricks on us. Or how God teaches us a lesson. Or how he shows us how powerful he is and how pathetic we are. And while those might all have some truth to them, the Bible actually tells us God's providence is for our own good. 

Romans 8:28 says: "We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

In other words, when James 1:17 tells us that "every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights" that includes a fever that comes in the middle of the night and just won't leave you alone. In other words, the Father who has adopted us in Christ by the Spirit never gives us anything less than what is good for us. It might be sickness, it might be trial, it might be annoyance, but it is always for our good. God is never anything but good to us. And that is something worth celebrating!

In other news, I am feeling much better! I sincerely appreciate everyone's prayers for us. We will resume our weekly Wed. Bible study tonight at 6 PM. Can't wait to see you all there!

In Christ,
Pastor Matt