Is God sovereign?

I find it sad that people who claim to be followers of Christ seem to have partial faith in him.  I remember when I was in high school there was a group called the Moral Majority.  They were mainly conservative Christians that got involved in politics to make sure politicians with conservative values won elections.  They were successful in helping Ronald Regan win the presidential election in 1980 as well as many other conservatives across the nation.  The Moral Majority transformed into the Christian Coalition and still exists today. 

Now I vote and vote conservatively.  But it is dangerous to put up people on a pedestal like they are God's candidate.  God has allowed some pretty bad people in power all over the world.  In fact, Daniel in Daniel 5 had to confront a king who had displeased God.  Daniel made it clear that it is God who sets people in office.  Look at Daniel 5:21b:

until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and sets over them anyone he wishes.

I'm appalled at Christians who trash leaders on both sides of the aisle.  Vote?  yes!  However, instead of ripping a leader on social media, how about praying for them?  God allowed them to be in office. 

Even if He does not!

I was reading in Daniel 3 today.  It is a familiar story about Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego refusing to bow down to the idol the King of Babylon required all people to worship.  King Nebuchadnezzar liked SMA but he was embarrassed that they refused to bow down so in his anger he told his guards to throw them into the fire.  Not only that but the fire was made 7 times hotter.  It was so hot (How hot was it?) that the guards that threw them in died.  Amazingly, they weren't harmed in the fire.  Not only were they not harmed they didn't even have the smell of smoke on their clothes. 

That story is amazing.  But let's go back a few verses.  When Nebuchadnezzar gave SMA a chance to change their minds they refused.  They had already made up their minds that they were going to serve God no matter what.  In verses 16-17 they said that their God could save them.  But I love vs 18:

But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.

Those of us who have heard this story know about the deliverance from the fire.  But what if God didn't deliver them?  I have a friend who was a missionary and has been serving in our ministry for over 15 years.  His wife found out she had cancer this week and died a few days later.  How do we respond to that?  God does deliver.  But what about when he doesn't?  We have to decide ahead of time how we will react.

Resolved

I'm reading in Daniel today and it is easy to miss some new thoughts in a passage that is so familiar.  Today I noticed something in Daniel 1:8:

But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.

I think the key part of Daniel's story is that he decided ahead of time how he would respond to sin and temptations.  This is not to say he was perfect, but he "resolved" that he would not do anything to dishonor God. 

Look at Daniel 2:14:

When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact.

We need more Daniels today.  I had to get off of Facebook for almost a year during the 2016 elections.  Friends of mine were going at each other over the election.  Personally, I did not want to vote for anyone.  But what was missing was wisdom and tact.  It has not gotten any better.  Do we really think we are going to change someone's mind by arguing with them?  Do we think people are attracted to a Christianity that tears apart people on social media? 

I pray for wisdom every day.  I don't want my wisdom but God's wisdom.  Our world needs more followers of Jesus who will resolve ahead of time to live for God.  We need Godly wisdom and tact.

Obedience

I was studying in Ezekiel this morning and came to a familiar passage in chapter 37 when God brought the dry bones back to life.  What hit me today was how absurd this must have sounded to Ezekiel.  Can you imagine what he was thinking as God told him to prophesy to bones?  Did he think what if someone sees me?  Did he think he misheard God?  In vs 7 it says that Ezekiel prophesied as he was commanded.  Then the bones came to life.  I can't imagine what Ezekiel thought then. 

How many times does God ask me to do things that seem strange?  How often do I worry about what others might think?  Maybe God hasn't told me things because I'm not ready to do something like preaching to dead bones.  I pray that will follow and obey no matter what.

God allows us to go through stuff so....

In Ezekiel 24 his wife passes away.  God would not allow him to do the normal mourning.  He was to control his mourning as a sign to the rebellious people he was prophesying to.  2 Corinthians teaches the same precept.  We can argue and say why would God allow righteous people to go through tough events for sinners.  However, isn't that what Jesus did?  Who are we to argue with God?  I say that as one who does question God more than I would like to admit.  I had a man commit suicide on my car 32 year ago.  It is an event that I will never forget.  I can't even watch a TV or movie and watch someone get run over.   The pain is still there.  Why would God allow me to go through that?  God has used me to minister to dozens of people who have had similar experiences.  Just within the last month, I was able to pray with a truck driver who had a man walk out in front of his truck and he died.  I don't pretend to know why God allows things the way he does.   Yet, in Ezekiel, he went through the loss of his wife to teach the Hebrews a lesson.  Tough stuff.

Speak only when God gives a word

I'm reading in Ezekiel now and I was struck reading about Ezekiel only speaking when God gave him a word.  Now, that would be hard in the world we live now to have any relationships.  However, what if we only posted on Social Media when God gives us a word?  Can you imagine how much more civil it would be?  What if Christians set the example of love and grace instead of blabbing all of our complaints all over the web? 

God can and will use anyone

I'm always amazed at the people God uses to accomplish his purposes.  He used a donkey.  He uses profanity-laced communicators.  He used adulterers, murders and even me.  I was reading in Jeremiah today and noticed how the King wanted to silence Jeremiah.  He even burned the scrolls that Jeremiah wrote down God's words on.  However, when they were captured God spoke through the commander of the Babylonian army in Chapter 40.  Here is a man who didn't know God or serve Him, but he started speaking God's words. 

I've learned over my life to not limit God.  Every time I do, he humbles me.  My prayer today is that I will hear from God no matter how I hear from Him.