His ways are incomprehensible!

Romans 11:34-36

Yesterday we looked into verse 33, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!”  It always amazes me when some politician tells the press this is what the American public wants, as if they knew.  I deem a person who makes such a statement too stupid or arrogant to be helped, unless they have a change of heart.  But that does not compare to many who go by the name Christian who have God in some box they call their church and have an attitude that He is confined to their tradition and order of worship.  If you believe you understand God please reread verse 33, folks His ways are incomprehensible!

With that setting shall we look at some questions asked by the apostle Paul: “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counsellor?”  “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?”  The quick and correct answer to the first question is, no one, for God is; Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Omniscient, He is all-powerful, always present and all knowing.  But you can have the mind of Christ, if you have entered into a personal relationship with Jesus the Christ.  For it is stated in Philippians 2:1-7, “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.”

As you begin this journey you will run into a few obstacles, when you look into the mirror of your heart it will become clear you have been molded by a world system that has the attitude of “what is in it for me?”  You will also have hurdles like the flesh, not doing bad things, but depending on yourself and your abilities to get your needs met outside of Christ.  Yes, your flesh has been programed and each of us have a unique version of flesh, as my mentor Bill Gillham said;  “God has no plan to make something beautiful of your life (in Adam).  The plan is to kill it and start over again.” 

Early on I came to the understanding that I needed a lot of help in my attempt to follow Jesus Christ, and I ask and the Holy Spirit would send men into my life to remove some of the cobwebs of my Baptist upbringing and my flesh that wanted to be noticed and first in line.  T.W. Hunt was one of those men and I was blessed to watch him and Laverne live out the mind of Christ.  In his book the “Mind of Christ” on page 3, T.W. begins with this opening paragraph and I hope you give some thought to the question.  “Suppose Christ broke through the veil that separates the spiritual from the physical and audibly said to you today, “I am going to require you to have My mind in all its fullness.  However, I want people to know what a miracle of change I can work, so I am going to reveal to your church what your mind is like right now.  Next Sunday, in your church, I am going to take over the morning service and play back for all to hear every thought you had this last week.”  Would it appall you or delight you if Christ revealed your thoughts?”

Verse 36 states the following; “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

 From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice