Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. There is no such thing
ever spoken of in the scripture record as an accident. Everything
that occurs in the heavens and the earth takes place according
to the direct will and purpose of the God who rules in the army
of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. He is the first
cause of all events, and nothing transpires that is not directed
by His hand. The lot is cast into the lap,
but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. The outcome of
every hand of poker and every set of dice, every throne has
been determined by him who knows the end from the beginning. Each
grain of sand stirred by the crashing of a wave at the beach
moves in as much a predetermined orbit as do the planets in their
paths about the sun. He who numbers the hairs on our
heads and clothes the lilies of the field in bright array
has left nothing to chance, whether it be the fall of the tiniest
sparrow from the sky or the preparation of a fish to swallow his profit.
How much more can we who have been brought out of darkness
and into His glorious light rejoice that He who has loved us with
an everlasting love shall direct our every step and bring us to
His desired end? We are in His hands and most
blessed. I saw a marquee the other day
in front of a supposed church building which said, Satan has
a plot but God has a plan. The intentions and designs of
Satan should never be discussed in the same breath as the unfolding
of God's purpose in the earth, as if there were some rivalry
between the two. Satan can do nothing that God
does not directly allow and mark out for him to do. He is but
a pawn in the hand of the Lord, like a dog on a leash or a trained
seal balancing a ball on his nose. One only has to listen
to Joseph's testimony to his brothers concerning the purpose
of God, and using their wickedness of selling him into bondage for
their own preservation. The Lord hath made all things
for himself, yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. The wrath
and wickedness of man shall be used for his glory, and shall
in no wise thwart any purpose of the Lord. Rather, he shall
use it to accomplish the very end for which it is designed.
Both the devastation and preservation which often befalls the sons
of God are ordained in His hand for their good. The hymn writer
of old said, His purposes shall ripen fast, unfolding every hour. The bud may have a bitter taste,
but sweet will be the flower. One thing is certain, and that
is that the Lord uses trials to teach His children a variety
of lessons. Only the stiff-necked and uncircumcised
ignore such instructions. Oh, that He might give us grace
that we might be exercised by these lessons. Oh, for grace
to have a tender heart that is easily taught and fashioned in
His wise and loving dealings with us. God will bring His sons
into conformity with Christ, both positionally, as He has
demonstrated by the imputation of Christ's righteousness to
them at the cross, and experimentally, as He works in them both the
will and to-do of His good pleasure. He will chasten those whom He
loves continually. He will not leave them to their
own devices, lest they destroy themselves. He will save them
in time as surely as He does in eternity, and will not let
His children go on without correction. Sometimes this chastening takes
on a very painful character, but is no less a demonstration
of His mercy to us when heartache and sorrow overwhelm us than
when we bask in the sunshine of the brightest day. Great is
our faithfulness. Some have characterized the chasing
of the Lord as though it is a threat rather than a promise. Surely
the Lord will correct the lifestyle of a wayward son or daughter,
but his chasing is most often designed as a hedge rather than
a hammer. The apostle Paul was well acquainted with such a hedge
and the thorn which was given him to prevent his being lifted
up with pride. The Lord is quite willing and
able to hedge about his garden, both for its protection and for
its strength. It is why he brings his people
low and unable to rely on the arm of the flesh, so that they
are reminded from whence their blessings come, and who is the
source of their strength. And he said unto me, My grace
is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities,
that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Do you rest in
the sovereign will of the Father? Is this not what the Lord taught
us to pray when he said, Our Father, which art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be
done, in earth as it is in heaven. And be not conformed to this
world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect
will of God. Do you rejoice in the will of
God? For a free CD containing 15 of these radio broadcasts,
send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.