David Bahn - Reflections

We are all adopted into God's family unless we are of Jewish ancestry. What a privilege we have along with all the true children of Abraham. It's an adoption by the grace of God which we enjoy by faith. We enjoy fully the privileges of family membership.

Second, God uses whatever circumstance we find ourselves in to shape us for his purposes. Whether we have a large part to play in the story of God, or only a supposed extra in the drama, we're all adopted into God's family and have a place in the family business. 

Maybe there are some bad things happening in your life now. Difficulties will challenge us to carry on day to day. Not all things that happen are good. But God is at work through all of these things. And the bad things are not the end of the story. They are the opportunities for God to intervene and show his power and glory. They may still be bad. But God is good and at work for his glory and our good.

Sometimes God uses experiences foreign to the church and faith to shape and prepare us for the great work he has in store for us to do. Many times we don't even realize how we are being shaped. We may even wonder why we're learning or experiencing the things we do. (Think junior high boys having to learn algebra or English.) But God uses all truth, learnings, experiences, and even our unique personalities for his purposes. 

We cannot know the ultimate truth about our eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, however,  apart from God's special revelation. That comes to us through Scripture - either through reading the Bible, biblical writings, witnesses of the gospel, biblical preaching and teaching. All truth is God's truth. But the greatest and truest truth of all is revealed by God in Jesus' life, death, burial, and resurrection. That truth is exclusive to God and precious to those who believe in Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

God’s purposes reach far beyond the momentary comfort or sensible actions of convenience we devise. Stephen’s defense will challenge them to the point of irate judgment and vigilante action of their own. They will stone Stephen. What will we do when God disturbs our sensibilities and twists the plot of our lives?

Better we be open to God’s ways and interruptions, and refuse to jump to conclusions about whether a moment in time is good or bad. The larger story of God’s ways ends in a grand celebration of his grace, goodness, justice, and love. These things we do not always see in the middle of the story. But until then, we can wait until the story comes to complete fulfillment.

In the life of the world to come we will be caught up in wonder, love and praise. For we will see more fully the breadth of God's grace and his praise will ring on our lips forever and ever. Worship - true worship - is not a forced compliance. It is the unstoppable expression of glory, honor, praise, and adoration from the redeemed of God to the God of our salvation. Let the praises ring!

Sometimes God puts dreams into our hearts in the manner of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 2:12). It might be of a better financial future. It could be the mending of a broken relationship. It may be of a dream vacation or dream home. But sometimes we dream of things not of God. Those dreams turn to nightmares if we follow them. May God help us to know the difference, and to follow his dreams rather than our schemes!

God did not use jealousy to save his people. But he did work through the twists and turns of fallen, arrogant, proud, deceitful, and hateful people. Don't take this as an excuse to act out on your own worst inclinations. But use this example to remember that no matter how bad things get, God can work them for good. He has a grand plan for the redemption of the world and to the praise of his glorious grace. You're a part of it. Never forget it.

We may grow impatient when we hear a promise of God, believe it, and seek to receive it. We may even despair when we see no movement toward relief. But that doesn't mean that God is uncaring, disengaged, or not at work. There is a bigger story of which we are all a part. Some have major roles. Others are supporting actors. But we are all important to God, and his great desire is that we be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.

When we see not even a foot's length of movement toward the fulfillment of God's promises we can remember Abraham, the father of faith, and believe in the Lord. God will reckon that to us as righteousness. And that's a very good thing.

Very few questions may easily be answered yes or no. Seldom are we able to give the fullest expression of our faith in a few words. Our faith is not a collection of isolated theological truths. We are a part of God's story. It all starts with God when he calls us like he did Abram, and sends us to places we do not know. And we go in faith, believing that God is leading to a perfect and glorious future. We go, knowing that others are with us on the path. We go, realizing that what we may not understand today we will be something with which we are at perfect peace in the future. We go, thanking God for the great examples of faith and seeking to learn from the not-so-good examples of disobedience by others.

Maybe there is someone in your life who is dedicated to being very far from God, rejecting Jesus, and wanting nothing to do with his reign and rule. Perhaps they are dedicated to an entirely different religion. In that case, I encourage you to pray with me, "Thy kingdom come." Let the reign and rule of Jesus take ever deeper root in my heart and may it also take root in the hearts of those far from him. The latter part of that happens when we embrace Jesus' reign and rule, his grace and forgiveness, love and faithfulness more fully in our hearts, and are emboldened to share that witness with those far from God.