Category Archives: Sovereignty of God

James: It’s Not About Me

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(Today is James 4) 

“Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.””
‭‭James‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A “me-centered” life is empty and foolish. But our natural inclination is to live that way.

We make our plans: I will do this today. I will do this tomorrow. Ten years from now I will be here. But do we consider God? Do we ask Him what His plan is?

The truth is we are only here for a little while. The only thing that will be of any significance in our lives is the Eternal. Eternal life is only found in God.

James tells us “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” (Verse 17) The “Good” we ought to do is living our lives surrendered to the only One who will take our lives and give them meaning far beyond the short time we have here on earth.

If we do not “do” the good of a surrendered life, a God-centered life, we live our lives in sin.

Instead of making our plans, we should be asking:

Today or tomorrow, where do You want me to go God? How long would You want me to do this or that? What do You want me to be about?

My life is not my own. It is not about me! It is about God and glorifying Him in all I do!

Show Us The Father — Unchanging

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Today is Mark 13.

Jesus and His disciples came out of the temple. One of the disciples commented on the beauty of what he was seeing. Jesus spoke of how all that seemed so certain and indestructible would be destroyed, the Temple.

They went to the Mount of Olive opposite the Temple. As they sat at there Jesus began to tell of what was to come. In all the disturbing events Jesus spoke of, One Thing stood out as unshakeable and unchanging — His Word!

Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” (Verse 31)

In all the changes we experience in our daily lives, Jesus tells us His Word will not change. It will endure.

The Word is God! It is His Divine Expression of Himself. You cannot separate God from His Word. They are one. Jesus shows us that His Word is unchanging, so is His Heavenly Father. Nothing in the future will change the character of our God. He will always be love, goodness, our peace, our strength, etc.

Of all the events that we will face in our lives, there is one certain person to run to that will withstand the storm, God. He and His Word are unchanging!

Show Us The Father — He is Sovereign

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Today is Mark 4:35-41.

Circumstances can loom intimidating and large. In today’s passage the disciples found themselves in a circumstance they knew was bigger than them, “a great windstorm” and “waves… breaking the boat” they were in. When they woke Jesus who was asleep in the boat, they asked Him a question that I’m sure I have asked God before, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Or in my words it may have sounded like, “God, don’t you care…?”

Then Jesus speaks, “Peace! Be still!”

“Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” These are the questions that Jesus asks as they sat in the boat in the “great calm.”

Every day as they walked with Jesus, the disciples saw Him perform miracles, speak with wisdom like no one else, heal, cast out demons, etc. He displayed that He indeed is Lord, and sovereign over all. He is supreme in power and dominion.

In my life, God has come through, time after time after time. Why would I be afraid and have no faith? Jesus displayed His sovereignty on the boat that day with His disciples, He has not changed.

Jesus shows me my Heavenly Father. My God is Sovereign over the storms that may blow in my life. The safest place to be in a time of storms and uncertainty is in the boat with Jesus! He alone has the power to say, “Peace! Be Still!” And bring calmness in uncertainty! He is in control. He is Sovereign and my sovereign God loves me.

How can I lose?