DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- WORKING TOGETHER WITH GOD

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – WORKING TOGETHER WITH GOD

"And it happened, as they fled before Israel and were on the descent of Beth Horon, that the LORD cast down large hailstones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died.  There were more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword."  (Joshua 10:11)

There are three approaches to seeing God's work accomplished in this world.  One approach is to set back and believe that God will do it all without my help.  Another approach is to think that everything depends on me.  A third approach, which I believe is more biblical, is God and man working together.  

I believe this is the pattern throughout Scripture.  God has the ability to do his work without any help from me.  After all, He created the universe without my help.  But more often than not, God gives us a part in kingdom work.  

In today's Scripture, God gave the Israelites the task of conquering the Promised Land.  But they did not do it on their own.  Beginning at Jericho when He made the walls come tumbling down, the part of the Israelites was to march.  Throughout the years of conquest, Israel did battle but God gave the victory.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul said that we are workers together with Christ (II Corinthians 6:1).   Jesus gave his disciples the commission to go into all the world but promised that He would be with them (Matthew 28:19-20).  So "they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them" (Mark 16:20).  

Martin Luther said, "Pray like it all depends on God, then work like it all depends on you."  But I suggest that we pray like it all depends on God and then work like it all depends on God.  In God's great plan, the work of the Kingdom is a combination of our work and God's work.  We can sit on our hands and let God do it all, or we can do it all ourselves.  But the best way is to work in cooperation with God who brings true success.   

Love, Dad