#157: Prepared

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But, as it is written, “what no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him” (I Cor2:9)

Today we just want to take out time to savor God’s providence – the glorious fundamental thought that God governs over everything. The bible is a unified story that teaches of God’s providence – throughout history, God has been working through the fabric of time and human activities to bring about His purpose and will – (His story). And by extension, God’s providence can still be seen today.

By God’s grace, we will look at some scriptures together to see just how God shows His sovereignty over us. The fact that He is mindful of you and I and He meets us where we are at our level is astonishing. Sometimes, we feel that we have messed up big time, probably beyond God’s forgiveness; but this is the trick that the devil uses to keep us in sin. The preparations that is talked about in our key text is inclusive and actually shows first expression in God’s preparedness for our salvation – for our home coming. The next time we feel that the best option is to end our life because God cannot use us again, Jonah stands as an example to show just how merciful God is and how great His love for us is:

Now the LORD had prepared and appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. (Jonah1:17)

This is a very popular story. But today we will meditate on this verse in the whole story. The LORD had prepared and appointed… unknown to Jonah. Reflect on the many fish that God had prepared and brought your path: that college friend that led you to Christ, that school teacher, the neighbor, even the stranger you met in the market. The beauty of this verse is that the fish may have just appeared out of nowhere, but the LORD had prepared and appointed… It was not an afterthought. The fish was there for such a time.

And as we glean on this display of God’s saving mercy and grace, we can worship in awe as Paul and David did:

Oh the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways; “for who has known the mind of the LORD, or who has been His counselor? Or who has given a gift to Him that He might be repaid?” (Romans 11:33-35)

“…what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?...” (Psalm 8:4)

The same theme re-echoed in the famous parable of the lost son as he journeyed home. While he was a great way off, his father ran to Him (see The Story of the Father of two Sons). The son underestimated the father’s love and thought it was best to return as a servant:

But the Father said to his servants, “…And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.” (Luke 15:22-24)

But the father already had this in mind – that His son would return; everyday he would sit on the balcony and look into the horizon for when He would see His son. He had this calf fed to fattening. The servants did not understand, even the older son did not understand. But this was his preparation ahead of time for the home coming of the lost son. All everyone knew was there was this fattened calf, it was distinct from the other calves (it was the best) but it never entered into the imagination of anyone that it was prepared (for those who love Him).

Today we know that this fattened calf is Jesus – the lamb who was slain since the foundation of the world, God’s preparation for those who love Him – that through Him, many sons will be called to glory.

ACTION POINT: Take out time today for a reflective review of your life; at the many times that God has shown you that He is in control, that you are still special and loved by Him. And in view of this, respond with Romans 12:1


Read also: Home Coming

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