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WEEKLY ENCOURAGEMENT
Updated: Tuesday, August 12, 2008
WHO'S TIMING?
The summer Olympics is the big story on every news and sport program. I heard a runner being interviewed the other day and he made an interesting statement. "Timing is everything!" Of course he was thinking about his sporting event, but he is more right than he probably realized.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:" Timing is an important part of our lives. In fact every thing we do is effected by it: baking a cake, catching a plane, taking life affecting medication, harvesting a field, birthing a baby, playing sports, driving a car and the list could go on and on.
Let us think about timing in relationship to the Lord. Actually, He is not affected by time. It is always "today" for Him. That is the reason He calls Himself "I am" in the Old and New Testament. Yet, when He was here on the earth He was very conscience of time.. For example, Matthew 7:6, He says, "My time is not yet come." Then later it is recorded in John 7:6, events developed, time past and He said, "My time is at hand."
But have you noticed that God's timing is often not the same as ours? We have various times zones in America and we have the "one hour ahead time" in the Spring, and "one hour back time" in the Fall. Maybe the Lord's time should be called "eternity" time. At any rate, it is often different than ours.
Consider the story of Lazarus and his two sisters. Now scripture tells us that Jesus loved this family. Lazarus became very ill and the sisters sent word to Jesus. Now they fully expected Jesus come right away and heal their brother. He did not come, but rather delayed.
Every have a similar situation? You had a serious problem, and after earnest prayer you expected action from God right away, but He delayed. With Mary and Martha's need, Jesus waited until their brother died. In fact He waited until he had been dead for four days. The sister's did not understand the timing at all. Scripture makes it very clear, that the Lord's timing was deliberate and with a purpose. The purpose was wonderful and God honoring. Jesus resurrected Lazarus!
Granted, the Lord may not resurrect a loved one, but one thing is certain. He always has plan and a purpose. He knows where He is leading us and what time we need to get there. He is never too late! The psalmist said, "My times are in thy hand:" Psalm 31:14.
We need to remember who God is: perfect, all knowing, all powerful, righteous, merciful, loving and absolutely sovereign. Can we not trust His timing? Why do we get so upset, or discouraged when He delays? The answer may be that we simply don't want His timing.
POINT TO PONDER:Who's clock are you running your life by?
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- Sandy Hastings August 12, 2008 |
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