Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– John Newton
Not Broken
The ways of the Lord are true and well light and the person who leans upon God can put their trust in the One Who created the path. He knows what’s around the blind corner and has left us with our instruction manual, which is the Bible, and if we don’t open it, we can’t open our eyes to see the truth and our minds to know what’s right and that’s to “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding” (Prov 3:5). Leaning on your own understanding is like leaning on air; it just won’t hold up.
The Road Map
God has plans for you and for me that we don’t even know about yet. God has predestined us to do good works for Him before we even existed (Eph 2:10) and the best way to find those good works that God’s appointed for us to do is to open the Bible and read where God’s will is found in Scripture but that’s not all; you and I must do what God’s will says we ought to do. If we’re conformed to this world we can’t know His will but by reading His revealed will, we can be transformed by the Spirit’s work in our minds and only then can we discern what God’s will is for our life (Rom 12:2). God will never reveal any more of His will for your and my life until we first obey the revealed will of God and God’s revealed will is found between Genesis 1:1 and Revelation 22:21.
The Rock and the Hammer
When some people ask for prayers at our church they are praying for unbeliever’s to have all their problems solved but sometimes God allows these problems to break the unbeliever’s pride and to humble them. If we are constantly helping someone that God is trying to humble, we can get in between the Rock and the Hammer. God may be trying to break them because He cannot fix what is first not broken and cannot fill up what is first not emptied. I’m not saying we should never help unbelievers, but pray for God to use these problems to draw them to Himself. That’s how I came to be saved.
Conclusion
John Newton’s was right in writing that “if it were possible for me to alter any part of His plan, I could only spoil it” and I must say the very same thing. If it’s not broke, don’t fix it. The Gospel is the whole counsel of the whole Word of God and it never changes nor needs changing with the times. It is like Christ; the Rock of Ages and His way is always better and better left alone by tinkering with human hands like I’ve done before (and regretted doing it!).
