The Kingdom of God and the Church

God is bringing about a separation within the Church. A separation possibly akin to what we find in the parable of the tares and the wheat (Mt. 13:24-30; 37-43). This is because while there are multitudes that believe in His name, few are they that follow Him (Jn. 6:66-68). The cross of Jesus Christ by necessity brings division (Lk. 12:51). It separates the children of God from the children of the world. It compels us to choose our master (Mt. 6:24). It brings a dividing line between righteousness and sin (Rom. 6:16-18). It gives no room for fence-sitters (Rev. 3:15, 16). The glorified Lord’s message to the seven churches in the book of Revelation brings this out clearly enough. 

What I want to say is this: The plan of redemption has brought about a body of Christ that walks in holiness. Her purpose on earth is clear – to seek His face in absolute faith and confidence (Acts 17:27) and glorify Him by her deeds (Eph. 2:10). In such individuals and in such a body, the Lord God seeks to disclose Himself (Jn. 14:21) and reveal His kingdom.

The clearly defining characteristics of the kingdom of heaven are: righteousness, love, truth, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14:17; Eph. 5:9). Over such a kingdom, God Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, is sovereign ruler and king. 

The citizens of this kingdom are sanctified by the precious blood of their Saviour Jesus Christ and made a new creature, not of the world but born of the Spirit of God (Jn. 3:5). People of this kingdom are defined by the nature of the kingdom. Such people have made the sovereign Lord, king over their lives and decisions. 

In them, one must see righteousness. “You shall be holy, for I am holy,” reminded the apostle Peter of what God said long ago through Moses and Aaron as he exhorted the Church that like the holy One who called us we too must be holy in all our behavior (1Pet. 1:15, 16). The ones who are pure in heart shall see God, instructed Jesus in the same vein as He taught from the mount (Mt. 5:8).  

In them, one must see love. “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another,” said Jesus as he gave a new commandment (Jn. 13:34, 35). Likewise, truth is evident in the children of heaven; not hypocrisy or men-pleasing words, but transparency and guilelessness (Rom. 12:9; 1Pet. 2:1).

In such children, one sees a distinctive character of peace. The heart of a trusting child of God knows who he has believed in. Such a heart is not anxious (Read Php. 4:7 with 4:6). Such a heart reminds itself that God has not given us a spirit of fear (2Tim. 1:7). Such a heart rests in the confidence that he is safe in the hands of his Father and no one can snatch him out from there (Jn. 10:29).  Such a child of God is also filled with joy – a gladness so overwhelming that he can smile in the face of peril.

Of such a kingdom did our Lord Jesus teach us to pray when He said, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Mt. 6:10). To such a kingdom has God saved us and called us with a holy calling (2Tim. 1:9) that as sanctified creatures, we walk by the Spirit in holiness and righteousness and not by the flesh (Rom. 8:4-14); live as a holy vessel for God to dwell (Jn. 14:23); an earthen vessel that radiates the knowledge of the glory of God (2Cor. 4:6, 7). Such a light cannot be hid but shines forth in such a way that men see it and glorify the Father who is in heaven (Mt. 5:13-16).

God’s plan through Jesus Christ in the gospel is that the Church can be such a body. He has chosen us to be a people of His possession that we may proclaim the excellencies of Him in this dark, selfish world (1Pet. 2:9). He has purposed that He can present to Himself the Church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless (Eph. 5:27).

So when we read that His winnowing fork is in His hand to separate the wheat from the chaff (Mt. 3:12; Lk. 3:17) or that He will send His angels and they will gather out of his kingdom the unrighteous so that the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father (Mt. 13: 41-43), such a separation should mean within the Church. For it is evident that the ungodly, unbelieving, idolatrous people in the world are clearly outside. There is nothing to separate because they are already separated (Eph. 2:12). These are already in darkness. When Jesus said, “If the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness.” (Mt. 6:22, 23), He would have been referring to us who have believed. We know that it is possible to “think” we are living in the light but in truth our heart can be far away from God (Mt. 15:8).  We have been exhorted not to take lightly the riches of God’s kindness and forbearance and patience (Rom. 2:4). We have been warned not to deceive ourselves for God is not mocked. Whatever a man sows, this he will also reap (Gal. 6:7, 8). Jesus Himself said that not everyone who would call on Him and prophesy in His name would enter the kingdom of heaven. He warned such that He would say, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.” (Mt. 7:21-23). 

These things are scary but like the author wrote in his letter to the Hebrews, “We are convinced of better things concerning you…” (Heb. 6:9) while continuing further to exhort us that we be not sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises (Heb. 6:12). 

As children of God, we must be careful not to grieve the Lord by our behavior (Eph. 4:30). As His holy people we must walk in a manner worthy of our calling (Col. 1:10). We must live worthy of the great sacrifice of the Lamb of God who gave Himself for us that we may walk in the newness of life (2Cor. 5:15; Rom. 6:4). We must not squander away the opportunities we have while on this earth but live with one ambition, to please God (2Cor. 5:9). When we see that this is what is expected of the children of the kingdom of heaven, it is evident that there is no room for the wishy-washy. The apostle John says that in such, the love of the Father is not in him (1Jn. 2:15). James uses stronger language calling such, “adulteresses” (Jas. 4:4).

The Lord God will accomplish what He has purposed (Job 23:13). The counsel of the Lord stands forever. The plans of His heart from generation to generation (Psa. 33:11).  He has purposed that His kingdom will be manifested here on earth. Through His zealous, obedient children He will accomplish this. Though the number of the sons of Israel (read believers in the church) be as the sand of the sea, it is the remnant that will be saved; for the Lord will execute His Word upon the earth thoroughly and quickly (Rom. 9:27, 28).   

Oh, that we may quickly align our heart to His will. Oh, that we may not take lightly His instructions but in submissiveness and obedience, love Him with all our heart. Oh, that through our faith in Him we can show that our God lives and reigns and leads and guides, the fruits of which will show to the glory of His name.

The Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead, can with that same power give life to our mortal bodies (Rom. 8:11). Let us seek His face (Psa. 27:8). Let us wait on Him (Isa. 40:31). Let us cry unto Him for strength and help. He will make us victorious. He is the God of hope (Rom. 15:13). He is the God who gives perseverance and encouragement (Rom. 15:5). Let us hear His Shepherd voice (Jn. 10:3), cling to Him and submissively and willingly walk where He leads us (Jn. 10:4). His plans are always for our welfare giving us a future and a hope (Jer. 29:11).

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

The Sufferings and Calling of Christ

The condemning of Christ can possibly be termed as the greatest error committed in the history of mankind. While it is true that God announced beforehand that His Christ should suffer (Acts 3:18) and it is also true that man’s sin had earned him God’s wrath and judgment and the only sacrifice that could save him was the death of the spotless Lamb, Jesus; the fact remains that we disowned the Holy and Righteous one (Acts 3:14).

For though He was in the beginning with God and all things came into being by Him; and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being (Jn. 1:2, 3); this Word chose to become flesh and dwell among us (Jn. 1:14). He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not know Him (Jn. 1:10). Error No. 1

Because of our unwillingness to hear the truth, we shut our ears to what was already written. We chose not to accept and believe what God spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways (Heb. 1:1). We rejected His words of truth, calling it blasphemy. His awesome works, wrought in goodness and mercy, we termed the work of Beelzebul (Mt. 12:24). Error No. 2

We passed judgment on the One who will judge the living and the dead (Acts 10:42). We hurled abuse at Him (Mt. 27:39), mocked Him (Mt. 27:29, 41), spat on Him (Mt. 26:67; 27:30), whipped Him (Jn. 19:1), chose a hardened criminal to be set free over Him (Lk. 23:18); and after all that, condemned Him to die on a cross as a public spectacle along with robbers (Mt. 27:38). Error No. 3

While, The Passion of the Christ, may have been produced using artistic liberties, it very vividly portrays the suffering of the Lord Jesus as described in the Bible. The night in the Garden of Gethsemane, the betrayal by His chosen apostle, denial from the one He loved, the accusations that were hurled at Him through the night, the arrogant and high-handed manner which He was subjected to and the whips (one word cannot quite capture the torment He went through each time the lash touched His flesh) brought alive the suffering that the Maker of all things went through at the hands of His creatures. The crude jokes, the taunts and insults, the crown of thorns, the spitting on His face, all these just added to the suffering. Finally, after a horrible night and a torment-filled morning, He was made to hang on the cross for six hours (Mk. 15:25, 34).

He was God! He is God! He need not have gone through all that He went through when self-centric, conceited, ungrateful creatures of His handiwork turned against Him. He would have been justified to abandon the whole plan of salvation, reconciliation and hope. But as a sheep remains silent before His shearers, so was He before His accusers (Isa. 53:7) and looked at the joy that was set before Him (Heb. 12:2).

He allowed His body to be broken that we may have life in all its fullness (Jn. 10:10). He shed His blood that we may be a new creation (2Cor. 5:17). He suffered that we may be reconciled to the Father (Col. 1:22) and experience, once again, the purpose for which we were created (Eph. 2:10). He rose again so that we can walk in hope and victory in righteousness, love, truth, peace and joy. (Oh, the joyousness when we understand the meaning of each of these words which incidentally characterizes the Kingdom of God. See Rom. 14:17; Eph. 5:9). 

I began by saying that the condemning of Christ can possibly be termed as the greatest error committed in the history of mankind. Yet today, each of us has hope and opportunity to change the course of our life’s history. His still, gentle voice is still calling. His word exhorts that today, if we hear His voice, we must listen to Him. He is full of mercy, overflowing with compassion, rich in loving kindness. His love that seeks our best is boundless. His wisdom that leads us into that best is perfect and eternal. His power that enables us to walk as overcomers is almighty. He is faithful. He is just. He is caring. His paths are those of peace. The outcome of His working is ineffably holy and pure. His purpose is marvellous and eternal.

Though we may have committed our life to Him at some point in the past, let us arise from the slumber (Eph. 5:14) that overtook us while we were not alert. Let us revive our first-love with a commitment that we will walk in the simplicity of single-minded devotion (2Cor. 11:3; 1Cor. 7:35) to Him, His commands and His will.

It’s not long before He will come again in a cloud with power and great glory (Lk. 21:27) to carry up to Himself His righteous ones who have been longing for His appearing (2Tim. 4:8). It’s not long when He Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God that we may meet Him in the air (1Thes. 4:16, 17). We shall be changed; the immortal replacing the mortal (1Cor. 15:51-53). We shall see Him just as He is (1Jn. 3:2). We shall reign with Him (2Tim. 2:12). We shall worship Him. We shall behold Him not for a time but for eternity.

Let us comfort and encourage one another so that we are found ready when He comes. Let us live each day in such a way recognizing that time is short (1Cor. 7:29). Let us not take the grace and kindness of God lightly (Rom. 2:4) but in holy conduct and godliness, look for and hasten the coming of the day of God (2Pet. 3:11, 12).

Now to Him who is able to keep us from stumbling, and make us stand in the presence of His glory blameless and with great joy, to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen (Jude 24, 25). 

The God in Psalm 121 (and all other passages in the Holy Bible)

I have often heard or known of Christians who can recite Psalm 121, among other popular Psalms and verses of Scripture, by rote. I have also come across parents insisting that the children read the Psalm over and over again until they can say it without reading. This method is good and can be a stepping stone to increase in faith – for faith comes from hearing and hearing the word of Christ (Rom. 10:17)  – especially for the Christian who is still new in his relationship with the Lord Jesus. However when practiced by the Christian ‘who by this time should be eating solid food’, it can lose its real intended purpose.

I believe that God was, through the inspired Psalmist wanting to show the reader who He really is and how dependable He can be. For after the Psalmist declares: My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth, He describes the One who is his Helper. Here are a few points that may help you see the glory of God.

• Maker of heaven and earth: Our Helper is the all powerful Maker of all things, through whom all things exist and hold together. Though He is invisible to our natural eyes, we need to have our eyes opened to see this Person as a real, living and all powerful One with whom nothing is difficult.

• He will not allow your foot to slip: Our Helper’s protection over us is unparalleled. In another Psalm He says, “The steps of a man are established by the Lord and He delights in his way. When he falls, he shall not be hurled headlong because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.” (Psalm 37:23, 24)
  Oh Lord! Help us to see how You are constantly and caringly watching over us (Psa. 34:15), always interested in our well-being (Jer. 29:11). You are the One who upholds us with Thy righteous right hand (Isa. 41:10).

• He who keeps you will not slumber: What a reassuring thought that the God whom my eyes seek is alert and caringly watchful over me, 24x7 / 365 days for all the days of my life. “In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for Thou alone O Lord dost make me dwell in safety.” (Psa. 4:8)

• Keeper, Protector and Guard: This is what the Lord, the Lord God of Israel so eagerly desires to be. Our shade, our shelter, our fortress. “O dwell in the shelter of the Most High, O my soul; let Him be the place you constantly reside, the One in whom you run and hide completely – for then, thou will abide in the shadow of the Almighty (Psa. 91:1).” 

The purpose of this writing is to encourage each who reads this - Seek the Person behind these assuring promises. Cling to Him with all of your being. Let Him reveal to you His glory - the awesome glory in being your Omnipotent, Caring, Faithful Maker. When you see Him, and not what He does, your faith is built on a solid foundation.

While I have used Psalm 121 as an example to illustrate the glory of the One behind the Psalm, the same is true for all other portions of Scripture. Throughout the Bible, God reveals Himself and His attributes in different ways. The time-setting may be of another era, the situation different, but the immutable God we serve is the same.

This was the difference between Moses and the unbelieving sons of Israel who moved in the desert. One saw His acts, the other understood His ways (Psa. 103:7). This was what separated the following crowd from the Roman centurion, the one of whom it is written, Jesus “marveled” – one saw the miracles and works of Jesus the Messiah, the other saw His authority, power and glory (Lk. 7:2 - 9).

Let us ask God to, through the scripture, reveal the beauty and glory of God that we may depend on, cling to, love dearly and worship completely Him who has called us unto Himself. We will find great delight in the relationship with the Person we relate to.

The Principle of Saving

In an article that appeared in the media, I read about a research that showed that to get through the night, plants do complex and accurate calculations that allows them to use up their starch reserves at a constant rate so that they run out of it almost precisely at dawn. Quoting a Metabolic Biologist the article read, “The calculations are precise so that plants not only prevent starvation but also make the most efficient use of their food. If the starch store is used too fast, plants will starve and stop growing during the night. If the store is used too slowly, some of it will be wasted.”

What scientists are discovering now about the behavior of God’s creation is consistent with the very principle of saving that God was trying to teach us several thousands of years before, even at the Exodus of Israel from Egypt. The Apostle Paul’s words in 2Corinthians 8:15 summarizes this principle: As it is written, “He who gathered much did not have too much and he who gathered little had no lack.”

God’s principle of saving revolves around trusting Him and depending on Him. “Look at the birds of the air,” said our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, “they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” (Mt. 6:26) Trusting the Creator and depending completely on Him means that one believes this God to be unfailing in faithfulness; mindful and caring; and completely able.

God has demonstrated that He is mindful and caring in that even before He made man, He provided for man (Gen. 1: 11, 27 and 29). God has shown He is faithful in that there is not a day when the birds of the air go unfed or the children of the righteous go hungry (Psa. 37:25). God has demonstrated He is able because it is now over 6000 years since He has created this earth and He still upholds all things by the word of His power (Heb.1:3).

In short, the principle of saving could go like this: Gather only what you need; give the rest cheerfully (2Cor. 9:7) in order to bless those who have need (Eph. 4:28).

However, unbelieving man with his insatiable greed to possess and own has not only violated the principle of God but has abused, robbed and stripped the earth to her present state. Even someone like Gandhi could see this and remark, “There is a sufficiency in the world for man's need but not for man's greed.”

The Church has one of the most priceless privileges to demonstrate the faithfulness, care and ability of God. By her complete, absolute and unshakable trust in her Redeemer, she can be that witness of God that He is dependable. The Lord Jesus’ rebuke, “Are you not worth much more than they (birds)?” Mt. 6:26 still sounds clear but is anybody listening? 

Let us strive, with a renewed mind – a mind not conformed to this world or the thinking of this world – to prove and demonstrate what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect (Rom.12:2). As for those who put their trust in Him, they will not be disappointed (Rom. 10:11).

Waiting

The Bible tells us that without faith, it is impossible to please God and that those who come to Him, must believe that He is and that He is the Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Heb. 11:6). Herein lies the secret of waiting. For when we know and are certain of Him whom we cannot see and are fully convinced that the One in whom we wait is true and faithful, we can rest with perfect peace in our waiting (Isa. 26:3). We can be still and behold the working of our God (Psa. 46:10) because He is –

Wise: His wisdom is perfect. His wisdom is manifold or many sided. He never makes a mistake. Whatever He does is precise and beautiful. Not only what but even when He does things is faultless. His timing is always right – never early, never late.

Omniscient: God knows all things. There is nothing hidden from Him. He knows our future. He knows the end from the beginning. He knows what we need before we can even ask Him (Mt. 6:8). He knows all things.
 

Caring and Good: His boundless love towards us and His loving kindness which endures forever causes us to enjoy His goodness and grace. Whatever He does is good. Good from the aspect of it being top quality or first class and good from the aspect that whatever He does is always for our welfare and not for our calamity. This is why the Bible encourages us to come to Him with our weariness and heavy burdens. This is why it encourages us to cast our cares upon Him. The reason is that He cares for us (1Pet. 5:7).
 

He cares for us more than sparrows, which if they could speak, would testify that there is not a single day that they go hungry. He cares for us more than lilies which are clothed with such beauty, despite their brief existence, that even a modern day Solomon – with his Armani suit, Gucci shoes, Rolex watch, Ray-Ban sunglasses with an iPad, MacBook Air and BlackBerry thrown in for style – would not have been able to compare with them. Jesus, asks, “Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Mt. 6:26)
 

All Powerful: He who made the heavens and the earth from nothing – just the Word of His mouth and He who can do the impossible, is the God we believe He is. Nothing is too difficult for Him. With Him, all things are possible.
 

Faithful: His faithfulness reaches the heavens. He can never deny Himself. All may change but He never changes. It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter of the Law to fail (Lk. 16:17). If He is faithful in even the little things that He has spoken, how much more will He be faithful and true to His promises? God never fails!
 

No wonder then that the Lord Jesus, as the Son of Man, could show by example as our Forerunner that the will of God was foremost for Him (Heb. 10:7). His food was to do the will of God (Jn. 4:34). Even though He had desires and a will of His own yet He always submitted to His Father’s will (Mt. 26:39, 42, 44). Jesus knew that He was in perfect hands. He knew He could trust in His Father with all His heart and not lean on His own understanding. In all His ways He acknowledged that the ways of His Father was the best (Prov. 3:5, 6). It could not get better.
 

Three different facets of waiting are described below. While in these, I have given examples of my own experiences, I believe the basic underlined aspect of waiting would be the same.
 

1. Waiting for God’s Promises:
 

Scripture is filled with several promises that God has made. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is one of them (Acts 1:4). Now we know that God who has promised cannot lie nor will He change His mind. Yet, though I ask, believing, in Jesus’ Name, I find myself still waiting. I know for certain that my Father will never fail.  For He who has given the promise to His children, will through Jesus Christ fill us with the Holy Spirit and clothe us with power from on high. I am certain that God will fulfill His promise and that no matter how long it takes for its fulfillment, I must and I will wait.
Abraham is a classic example that comes to mind. Though God had given him the promise that he would have a son, he had to wait for almost 25 years to see its fulfillment. It is possible that at each of Sarah’s monthly menstrual cycle of every passing year he would have wondered, “Maybe now, God will fulfill His promise. Maybe this time, we shall see His faithfulness” and each time He would see nothing. Year after year he waited. On one hand He would have recognized how increasingly impossible the situation was getting as he got older; worse still as Sarah’s womb was as good as dead yet on the other hand he clung to the fact that God is faithful to His promises (Rom. 4:19-21). God never fails! Abraham waited. He waited on God in faith, believing that the great “I Am” is who He is and he continued with diligence and perseverance to hold on to the promise (Heb. 6:12). Abraham never gave up!
 

2. Waiting for God’s Will:
 

There are times when we know what God wants us to do. We have recognized His will and observe the direction that He is guiding us into. Yet we simultaneously sense within us that our time has not yet come to do what we recognize He wants us to do. We know we have to wait; for how long we cannot say but that we need to wait, this we know. The Bible has examples of those who knew what God wanted them to do but needed to wait for God’s right time; and that is what they did – they waited. I will cite three examples to bring out this aspect of waiting.
 

Moses is my first example. He would have recognized God’s calling for his life when he was 40. Yet though God’s calling remained unchanged, Moses had to wait. With all his training in Pharaoh’s palace; with all the knowledge and skills he acquired; with all his youthful zeal and fire – God made him wait. He had to wait for nearly 40 years. With all his knowledge and skills; training and zeal, Moses had to wait in his father-in-law’s house doing one of the most ordinary and nondescript things for someone of his stature. Nevertheless, he waited; faithfully tending sheep. He persevered with diligence. He held on to his God with faith. Then at the right time, God’s right time, God met him and went with him in the task he was called. Even after spending several years leading Israel through the wilderness, Moses continued to depend on God’s timing and presence. Exodus 33:15 records for us this attitude: “If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here”.
 

David is my second example. Though he was still a young lad, he was chosen and anointed to be the next king of Israel. In that time he learnt submission in waiting. David knew Saul wanted to kill him. He could have easily killed the king for he had the opportunities. He could have used these opportunities to justify his action saying that God had opened a door for him and that in any case he was to rule in Saul’s place. But no! He knew that it was not right to raise his hand against the Lord’s anointed so instead He kept committing himself to Him who judges righteously. The Psalms are filled with this. At the right time, God’s right time, David was given the role he was chosen for.
 

The Lord Jesus is my third example. Though all scripture spoke of His coming and the work He was going to do; though at the age of 12 He knew so much as to confound teachers of the Law – yet He waited. It could have been possible to justify the need for action saying, “There is so much need in the world. I am only here till 33 so I might as well be a blessing to as many as I can for as many years as possible.” But no, Jesus waited in submission to His Father’s will. He waited till He was 30, leading a quiet life, being faithful in a simple job that had nothing to do with His calling as a Messiah. He waited for His Father’s time.
 

Sometimes however, we get impatient while waiting. We want to see some action. We think we can help God with our wisdom and ideas. The result can be disastrous. We see this in Abraham, the father of faith. He got impatient in his long years of waiting He thought he would help God fulfill His promise and acted on Sarah’s “wise” proposal. The result – through Ishmael we have the entire Arab world set its face against Israel, God’s promise through Isaac.
If only we can wait. Wait in perseverance; wait in diligence; wait in faith. We can be certain that as sure as rivers reach the sea or the sun rises in the East – God will show us His faithfulness. We can rest in His faithfulness.
 

3. Waiting on God for things we need but cannot buy:
 

Most often, we ask for material things – a house, a car, gadgets and other equipment. I often ask God for things that will add to my children’s education.  All of what we ask could be legitimate; things that we need. We pray and ask God, for His word says, “Ask.” We say, “Lord, You know all things. You know my need and You are able to supply all my needs according to Your riches in glory” – but often we are not willing to wait either to find His will or for Him to make a way. Instead of waiting, we rush in with our own wisdom acquiring what we have set our hearts to obtain. We rush to sources of the world be it banks and finance companies; be it attractive finance schemes and low EMIs. We put our trust in the strength of the influential and the powerful. We find these ways quicker and more certain than the way of waiting. Our arguments? “How will I know if it is God’s will?” “What if God does not provide?” “How long can I go on waiting?”
 

Isaiah 31:1 says, “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help (Egypt is a simile for the world), and rely on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are strong, but they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the Lord!” Psalm 147:10 continues in the same vein saying, “He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He does not take pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord favours those who fear Him, those who wait for His loving kindness.”
 

The truth is that God’s ways are the best. There is no other way that is better. Besides, His ways are also foolproof and error free. When we wait on God we can be certain that because He cares for us; because His thoughts towards us are always for our welfare; because we are more precious to Him than sparrows whose needs are met without them worrying… this can go on – we are safe in the will of our Father in heaven. He did not withhold His only Son from us; now how much more will He not also bless us with all that is good and all that we need.
 

By waiting for God trying to discern His will we achieve many things with one stroke. 

1. Because we are uncertain as to what His will is, we are constantly seeking His face.
2. Our dependence on Him increases. 
3. We are obedient to His word that says, “Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another.” (Rom. 13:8) 
4. We can be certain that even if we do not have understanding into what His will is, because we put my trust in Him, we will not be put to shame. He will always guide our steps into His best. If it is God’s will for us to have what we ask, He will make a way. If it is not, He will shut the door. 
5. We learn contentment (Php. 4:12). 
6. We are free from the creditor and 
7. Most important of all, we glorify or honour God.

There are times when we can ask God for things in faith, believing, in Jesus’ name. We can wait on Him and diligently seek His face in prayer. Yet, He chooses not to answer. Instead He just strengthens us and says, “My grace is sufficient for you.” (2Cor. 12:9) The Apostle Paul while writing on his experience with earthly needs said, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Php. 4:13) It is with this attitude of submission that we learn to let go and say, “Lord, not my will but Your’s be done. Father in Heaven, glorify Thy name.”
 

I am fully conscious that what I write is not the trend in the world today. But then, the ways of the world are very contrary to the ways of God. Yet, what I write is what I believe the scripture wants us to be. If I am considered a fool by the world, so be it. I know that in Christ Jesus, I am blessed and my reward will be great. If what is written is true and in line with the teachings of the Bible, then let us together have this as our attitude; and if in anything there is a different attitude, God will reveal that also to us (Php. 3:15).