What can One Do?

One day a man bought a stallion, and all of his friends said, “That’s good.”

The next day the stallion ran away, and all of his friends said, “That’s bad.”

Two weeks later the stallion returned with a herd of mares. His friends said, “That’s good.”

The next day his son broke his shoulder when the stallion threw him off. The friends said, “That’s bad.”

The next month war broke out. But because the boy was injured, he could not go to war. The friends said, “That’s good.” ... We could go round and round calling an event “good” and then again calling it “bad” depending on its perceived consequences or results.

Or, we can look toward God and ask, "How does this fit into the BIG scheme of things. Where am I and where is God in this picture? “Might God be saying something here? What is God’s perspective; is he active here? Does God have me in mind?”

Is there a plan of God at work in this world? Or, is everything simply mere chance and happenstance, a chaotic rolling of the dice, good luck verses bad luck?

ESTHER’S story (see the book of Esther in the O.T.)

 Haman plans to destroy the Jews.
 Mordecai says to Esther: you are in the best position to do something about this.
 Esther says, you are asking me to risk my life in doing this.
 Mordecai responds:
1. You are not insulated from the danger. You will be destroyed by Haman’s plan as sure as everyone else will.
 Evil threatens to destroy us (God’s people, humanity).
 Earthly position, place, power, wealth, and alliances are no protection.
2. God will do His work regardless (save His people). But you will not be part of God’s saving plan if you do not participate now (when it is not safe to do so).
 God is working even now to fulfill His own purpose(s).
 Are you participating in His work or not? If not do not expect to participate in the results of His work.
 We are co-writers in the script of life.
3. Perhaps God has placed you where you are just for such a reason as this.
 God’s Providential guidance provides us opportunity.
 Be prepared so that when opportunity does knock, you are ready to answer.
4. Pray and fast for me.
 If I perish I perish. I will have done God’s action/will.

What I can Gain?
1. Acknowledging God’s loving presence, concern, and will for our lives keeps us in touch with His presence, control, and power over our lives.
2. We have an active part to play in God’s plan. We can make a difference. We can get involved and “make things happen.”
3. We can have confidence in our responsiveness to God:
 God has a hand in this. It is God’s will. We’ve sought his purpose in this. He will engage one way or another.
 When we are willing to do God’s will, we find “fittingness” with who we are and what we are becoming.
4. Cultivate listening to God speak: find confirmation and validation through active reponsiveness.

Conclusion:
 The convergence of people, place, and time is no accident.
 God’s providence is at work.
 Our responsiveness is also at work when we are willing to let it come together. We proactively seek God’s blessing in this by being responsive (Prov. 16:3).
 We can therefore expect and anticipate action/results from God.
 We must prepare for change, correction, and counter action  moving causes friction (tire on the road, airplane repairs, etc.).

Problems
 Often we are unwilling and therefore unable to hear God’s voice and therefore His direction.
 We are distracted and fail to hear God’s voice correctly.
 We are in a mode of self-deceit and chose to listen to other voices.
 We are confused and not sure that we are hearing correctly.

Notes on Spiritual/Character Development

PHASES OF FAITH:
Growing Bodies, Maturing Souls

1. The goal of Discipleship is Spiritual Maturity. But what IS Spiritual Maturity and why should it be a priority in our life’s development?

 The goal of Spiritual Maturity is fullness and completeness in God.
 What physical health is to the body, spiritual maturity is to the soul.

2. Just what does a Spiritually Mature soul look like?

 The mature one is at peace, trusting in God when there is much agitation and turmoil on the outside.

 The mature one is stable, balanced, and connected to God, therefore having no need to be personally intrusive, defensive, or reactive toward others.

 The mature one is positive and constructive, adding to the building of a life.

 The mature one is fun and enjoyable to be with, bringing delight, humor, and laughter to others.

 The mature one knows why he or she IS.

3. How do we get there? What must we do to become spiritual mature ourselves?

 Never stop learning. Always remain teachable.

 Never assume that accumulating head knowledge is the same as learning. Real learning is putting knowledge into practice. So, always put into action the truths and/or principles you are learning, if you want it to become your own learned experience.

 Look for role models and learn from other people’s mistakes as much as possible!

 Never lose sight of the purpose. Why is it that you are growing, learning, developing, and reaching for the sky?  Because to know God (His Love and Glory) is the greatest experience one could ever have, for it is why we were created!