Relax! God is Running The Show!---Day 200 Through the Bible

When I look at my flowers, I sometimes wonder what the world will be like this time next year.  However, I continually find reassurance in God's word that He is ruling in the kingdom of men!

Today, we are beginning the Book of Ezra.  We recently read in Proverbs 21:1, "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; he turns it wherever He wishes".  Cyrus, king of Persia, was directed by God to build a house for God in Jerusalem. This would bring about the plan that God had spoken through Jeremiah.  I hope we find this reassuring as we are helplessly carried along in the current of world events. Almost daily, we hear troubling reports in the news. Through this study I am reminded--also on a daily basis--that God rules in the kingdom of men (Daniel 4:17). What assurance! God does not say our path will be easy.  However, His goodness is "laid up" for those that trust in Him (Psalm 31:19)!  Dr. Stanley puts it like this, "Mighty men and ruthless conquerors may come and go, imposing their will on those in their path--but the Bible reminds us that the will of only one Ruler ultimately matters". (What would the world be like if every one of God's people were doing His will?  "To walk in the Spirit is to obey the initial promptings of the Spirit" (Life Lessons, Dr. Stanley).  In order to do this, we must come to the place where we trust God completely---we definitely need God's help with this one!) 

Do we exercise "caution", as believers, when it comes to disrespecting or offending God?  This is an area where we should be growing in sensitivity.  In Ezra 2, we see some who could not verify that they were indeed Israelites (v. 59), therefore, the governor instructed them that they "should not eat of the most holy things" until a priest could consult God.  We have read about the anger of God against more than one king who presumptuously attempted to take on the duties of the priest. Pride is inherent in each of us and is the source of presumption today, as it was in the time of the kings. Without a doubt, pride is our greatest sin, as well as the sin we least recognize. We would do well to remember who we are in relation to God.  (See Ecclesiastes 5:2, "Be not rash with your mouth, and let not your heart be hasty to utter anything before God: for God is in heaven, and you upon earth: therefore let your words be few"!)

In Acts 21, we read in verse 30, "And all the city was disturbed". God is not the author of confusion (I Corinthians 14:33). We see a mob in action based on something that was not even true (it is a proven fact that many people who participate in protests don't even know what they are protesting). "Jews from Asia stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on (Paul)". It was evidently a case of not having all the facts--they accused Paul of defiling the temple by bringing a Greek into "this holy place".  They had seen Paul in the city with Trophimus the Ephesian, "whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple". "Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindles!" (James 3:5). Consider the scriptures that admonish us to prove all things (I Thes. 5:21), and to make sure we have all the facts before we set ourselves up to look foolish (Proverbs 18:13), or worse--to put someone's life at risk!

God's word reassures the readers time and again that regardless of the fact that God is powerful and great, He will answer when we seek Him from pure motives.  What a joy to begin the day recognizing that God is in control and that our hope is in Him and His plan. The Psalmist writes this beautiful passage in Psalm 86:8-10, "Among the gods, there is none like You, O Lord; nor are there any works like Your works.  All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, and shall glorify Your name.  For You are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are God"!