Trying to Put God in a Box - Job 20-21 and Acts 10:24-48
Job's friend, Zophar, thought that he had God figured out. He had decided that anyone who was being punished had sinned, because God always punishes wicked people. To him it was all very black and white. The problem with his conclusion was that God is able to do His will in different ways, so we must not try to force Him to do it only one way. That is what some people call "trying to put God in a box." Job's response was very good. He pointed out that a lot of wicked people do very well for a long time. Some even go through their whole lives without much visible punishment from God. However, He does punish them, when they die. Therefore, Job knew that it was not always correct to say that a person who was being punished had sinned, and one who was not being punished was righteous. I pray that we all will learn not to try to put God in a box.
Peter and the Jewish believers who went to Cornelius' house were getting way outside of the box. They would not usually have any fellowship with Gentiles. Now, they found themselves in the home of a Roman soldier, and they were preaching the Gospel to Gentiles. The Lord amazed them when He sent the Holy Spirit upon the believing Gentiles, and they spoke with different languages just like they did on the day of Pentecost. They could have reacted very negatively. They could have said that God did not work that way, so this must be from Satan of some other source. They did not allow themselves to be ruled by tradition or logic. They did not try to put God in a box. They were sensitive to the new thing God was doing. That is how we all should react to God, when He does something differently.
The truth is that God never violates His Word. He always does what He said He would do, but He has the freedom to adapt how He does His will. He has the freedom to expand what we know about His will. Therefore, He will not add to the Bible, but He might do something in a new way. I pray that we will be sensitive to God's desires, and that we will not miss the Lord, because we have a preconceived notion of what He has to do or how He has to do His will.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Job 22-24 and Acts 11.
Peter and the Jewish believers who went to Cornelius' house were getting way outside of the box. They would not usually have any fellowship with Gentiles. Now, they found themselves in the home of a Roman soldier, and they were preaching the Gospel to Gentiles. The Lord amazed them when He sent the Holy Spirit upon the believing Gentiles, and they spoke with different languages just like they did on the day of Pentecost. They could have reacted very negatively. They could have said that God did not work that way, so this must be from Satan of some other source. They did not allow themselves to be ruled by tradition or logic. They did not try to put God in a box. They were sensitive to the new thing God was doing. That is how we all should react to God, when He does something differently.
The truth is that God never violates His Word. He always does what He said He would do, but He has the freedom to adapt how He does His will. He has the freedom to expand what we know about His will. Therefore, He will not add to the Bible, but He might do something in a new way. I pray that we will be sensitive to God's desires, and that we will not miss the Lord, because we have a preconceived notion of what He has to do or how He has to do His will.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Job 22-24 and Acts 11.