For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.** Philippians 2:13 (NIV)**
God works in us what He desires to work through us by His indwelling power and He orchestrates all things towards this great end. Nothing is chance or happenstance with God. Our jobs are to choose to crucify self and to live for Him. Jesus forces no one but desires for everyone to come and follow Him. Our selfish ambitions and vain conceits will halt our spiritual growth, keeping us babes in Christ at best as Paul rebuked the Church at Corinth when he wrote in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3A (NIV): “Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly -- mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly.” It greatly encourages believers to trace the footsteps of providence along their life journeys – taking note of God’s Hand at work within our lives. Reminding ourselves of how He orchestrated all things with great purpose and love. How He prevented and delivered, directed and corrected, grieved and relieved – all out of love and pregnant with purpose. Here the poison there the antidote, the dismal cloud providence dispelled - here a want and there a supply. God’s mighty Hand ever leading and directing and guiding. He Himself states of Himself in Isaiah 46:8-10 (NIV): “Remember this, fix it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels. Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.” And what He pleases is always, always for our best. God’s divine interventions not only brings us to heaven but brings heaven to the soul of man now – even and especially through the hard. He carries His own on eagle’s wings.
God’s vigilant care covers all His own. It greatly behooves us to notice the ways of providence towards us and to taste and see the goodness and the glory of God through all He prevents and allows in our lives. And to remember that there is purpose in all and His purposes are ever good and pleasing and perfect even though often extraordinarily difficult. Heaven is eternal and is our home – earth merely our sojourn. It behooves us not to cling to earth too tightly rather to Him. Here are thorns, thistles and the sweat of our brow – there everlasting joy, peace and contentment. Therefore, we are to fix our eyes not on what is seen but what is unseen. As what is seen is temporal and what unseen, eternal.
But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure. Psalms 71:14-15 (NIV)