God’s Everything!
Everything we do, everything we think, everything we say, everything … The word takes in, well, everything. When we become aware that we truly live in God’s Everything, the world looks different to us.
My husband’s father often quoted this verse as we drove by a placid hillside with many cattle grazing. For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills. Psalm 50:10. Then I found this verse – from Psalm 24:1: The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.
Can we even begin to name God’s everything? We would have to begin before the beginning. God’s everything begins before time. Who set the clock ticking? Who designed the perfectly working universe that needs no patches or updates?
The tides pull in and out, the seasons pass by, the birds migrate on time, the sun rises, shines and sets. The animals mate and propagate. Even earthquakes, volcanoes, and tornados are controlled by God, not man. Then, what causes the world to wobble, threatening to fall apart at any moment? Why, indeed? This answer is a three-letter word – SIN. Sin committed against our Creator?
When did Sin creep into the perfect Garden of Eden? When Adam and Eve wanted to be as knowledgeable as God by eating of the forbidden fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden or even touch it. They wanted to make their own decisions and be like God. They were tempted by a rationalization from the devil.
Knowledge, when the wisdom of God is left behind, creates sin.
Ecclesiastes 1:9 proclaims, History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new. Man continues to commit this same sin that thrust Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden eons ago over and over. Sin may take different guises, but it continues to be for power and control. Only God possesses all for He created everything.
Everywhere we see contention and brokenness because of this inner drive for ‘I want it my way!” How can we get off this treadmill of the same old ways of the world? How can our heart and ways become new?
When we learn to be dependent on God, trust God, and humbly love God, His Hope is the rainbow promise of our lives. It isn’t a ‘mind’ thing. It is a ‘heart’ thing. Gaining knowledge of Who God is, becoming faithful to our Lord God is the beginning of wisdom and recognizing God’s Sovereignty in all things. It is all about choosing to love others and serving God in this world today and always.
Gems for Thought from I Peter 2:12-19:
Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world. Vs 12
For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right. Vs.13-14
It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. Vs. 15
Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king. Vs. 17
For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment. Vs 19
Last Sunday we sang the lyrics to My Everything, this song is becoming my favorite. Thank you, Kati Pessin.
Creator, world maker – God of space and time
Unchanging, unmoving – Constant Friend of mine
Conqueror, all that breathes is in Your hands – Master of the earth
Comforter, Peace-bringer – Father, You are
All my life and all my worship – To You my everything
All I have with all I am – For You my everything
Powerful, strong and mighty over all – King above all kings
Lifted up on the tree of love – King of mine, You are
How could I ever repay – How could I ever repay
How could I ever repay – What You gave.
Next time we hear the word, EVERYTHING – we will remember Who is our Everything!
– For everything, there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. 3:1
– Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11
– My child, if your heart is wise, my own heart will rejoice! Everything in me will celebrate when you speak what is right. Proverbs 23:15-16
– Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6
– For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13
– When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Ephesians 3:14-16
– Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. Ephesians 4:29
– Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything. Colossians 1:18.
Comments? eacombs@att.net
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