Tuesday, April 4, 2017

The Fools God Chooses

Exaltation comes neither from the east
Nor from the west nor from the south.
But God is the Judge:
He puts down one,
And exalts another. —Psalm 75:6,7

"God gives us the leaders we deserve," is an old saying. We vote our conscience, but God determines the outcome. Aye. “'Tis mystery all!”

We go for the game-changers, the movers and shakers, men and women who get things done. God, however, establishes the human framework of a nation: "I myself set up her pillars" (75:3). He raises up rulers—able leaders, fools and naves—to get His work done.

Here's Paul's take: "For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth" (Romans 9:17).

Pharaoh? A pompous, egocentric, duplicitous fool? God in His wisdom exalted this man to bring salvation to His people and ultimately to the entire world.

So let's not panic when elections don’t go our way, nor should we rail against those God has chosen. He knows what He's about and will render justice at the proper time (75:2). Our part is to pray; His part is to work in and through those He has chosen to accomplish His will. 

That's true of the state we're in right now.

David Roper

3.2.17

Going and Not Knowing

"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing...