The vaunted Wise Man who penned Ecclesiastes put it this way: "I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happens to them all." (9:11)
The wisest of all men, Jesus the Christ, gave us these words recorded by Matthew: "That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." (5:45)
I do not wish to engage in any disputation with the good people who adhere to the "Name it and claim it" theology that is espoused from many pulpits today, but I believe our petitions must be centered in God's will and design. Then why do we pray? It is praise, honor and adoration to our heavenly Father; it is communion and communication with God. As we pray we will find God's will revealed for us in our circumstances.
Then, one might ask, what of Jesus's words "Ask and you shall receive"? Listen further to his words:
" These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
The key: Peace in Jesus Christ as we pass through this world of tribulation on our way to the Heavenly Kingdom! Hallelujah!
5 comments:
Always enjoy your commentary David.
I think that life isn't about learning to survive the storm but learning to dance in the rain.
Equating God with the genie in the bottle - oh my!
KC Bob, that story illustrates peace in the vicissitudes of life.
Grace, oh, my! indeed. Sadly, I think many people do just that.
Peace is always more important than stuff.
Vee, yet curiously there are those who think that stuff will give them peace. Go figure.
Post a Comment