“On His Terms” – Now Think On This by Steve Martin
“Yes, he (Jacob) wrestled with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought His favor. He found Him at Bethel and there He spoke with us, even the Lord, the God of hosts, the Lord is His name.” Hosea 12:4-5, NASU
Rather than ask if you have ever wrestled with God yourself, the proper question would be, “How many times have you wrestled with God?”
We all have if we are honest with ourselves. The Lord speaks something to us, and rather than just say, “Yes, Lord” like Mary did when the angel came to her with the news of Yeshua’s (Jesus’) coming birth, we act as if He isn’t speaking to us, or He probably is asking the wrong person to do it.
“Let Thomas do it” may be what comes to our mind. Or, “I think Suzie should be the one, not me. After all, look at what she has already done.”
We often choose to dismiss or even ignore, when the Holy Spirit prompts us with a word, giving us an assignment or asking us to perform a task that might take us out of our comfort zone. And then, where is our faith?
It is often thought that if we allow the Lord to speak to us, however He wants – through His Word, another person, or circumstances, as He did with Jonah, Jacob, or any number of examples that have been given to us in the Bible – He might ask us to go to Africa, or speak a word to our neighbor, who we really don’t care for any (if we even know our neighbor these days.)
My response regarding the “Africa” word was always, “Sure. Send me.” I have always wanted to go since I was a 10-year-old. But that is not the general case with people. (And in time I will!)
When it comes to who is Lord, do we decide when and where He has rule in our life? Do we tell Him, “Yes I will” for this but “No I won’t” for that? On whose terms do we make the decisions we do, when He directs our steps?
Jesus knows us. He knows before we respond how we will respond, but He keeps giving us opportunities to make the right response. Or at least He will for a while before He leaves us to do as we want, and reap the consequences of the choice we made.
He told the parable about the two sons, after each hearing a command of their father, as follows in Matthew 21:28-32.
“Tell me what you think of this story: A man had two sons. He went up to the first and said, ‘Son, go out for the day and work in the vineyard.’ “The son answered, ‘I don’t want to.’ Later on he thought better of it and went.
“The father gave the same command to the second son. He answered, ‘Sure, glad to.’ But he never went. “Which of the two sons did what the father asked?”
They said, “The first.”
Jesus said, “Yes, and I tell you that crooks and whores are going to precede you into God’s kingdom. John came to you showing you the right road. You turned up your noses at him, but the crooks and whores believed him. Even when you saw their changed lives, you didn’t care enough to change and believe him.” THE MESSAGE version
Wow! Notice who Jesus said would precede ones into God’s kingdom? The crooks and the whores. They believed, and thus did what He asked. What does that say about us when we hear and turn a deaf ear to what the Lord is speaking to us?
And then on whose terms will we carry out His desires? Do we put parameters around it, just enough to make it palatable, and easy to do?
Our walk with the Lord will take us off the convenient path, the easy way out, the comfortable couch that we love to sit on. Faith is an act of obedience.
Decide to choose to walk in faith next time the Lord gives you the privilege of hearing His voice, His Word, by choosing to give it to you. The more you respond in a positive, obedient manner, the more you will see the perfect will He has for your life being carried out.
It is up to you.
And if you have said no in the past, there is room for repentance. Ask for His forgiveness, and He will once again show you the way you are to go.
Now think on this and see what good things the Lord has in store for you and those around you.
Ahava and shalom,
Steve Martin
Founder/President, Love For His People, Inc.
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Now Think On This #469 – in the year of our Lord 11.17.19 – “On His Terms” Sunday, 7:00 am
