If you have children or have been around kids when they are arguing, your have probably heard a phrase something like this, “You’re not the boss of me!” Our independence and offense at others telling us what to do starts at an early age. This tendency seems to follow us our entire lives. I want things my way and you can’t make me do it differently.
With this situation in mind, the question for men pursuing godliness is, how do we relate to God? What is our reaction to his commands and those challenges he allows in our lives through temptation or trouble? Some would tell us God is simply a benevolent grandfather who exist only to please our wants and desires. We recognize is loving and generous, but he is also sovereign.
That’s a word we don’t use often, but it is important we understand its meaning. To be sovereign means to he in total and complete control of every single moment of every day. This is not a position of dominance to place us under his dictating thumb. Instead, it is a place of safety allowing us to live in a place of peace. We can trust God’s sovereignty in our lives because of his attributes.
First and foremost, we know God IS LOVE. He is not just a loving person; his very character is identified as love. The second assurance we have is that we are the primary object of his love. This was discussed in last week’s post. This understanding allows us to place our full confidence in God’s choices knowing they are always motivated by what is best for us.
We also need to recognize that we may not always understand what God is up to in our lives. In Isaiah 55:8-9, we see this explained. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
This is just common sense. The all-knowing, all-powerful, everywhere present, loving, creator of the universe can probably do a pretty good job of directing my life if I will allow it. But I have a fee will and can reject his leadership. But when I choose to allow his power, I become more confident in this ability and it is easier to step back. However, when I insist on doing life my way, to meet my own level of comfort, I am declaring my doubt that God is capable of handling the task.
Living a life in obedience to the Word of God and being a person who is in tune with the leading of God’s Holy Spirit is all that is required to allow God to exercise his sovereignty. He will do the rest.