THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD Devotion #4 of 17

"For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and He is the governor among the nations" (Psalm 22:28); "For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods" (Psalm 95:3); "One God and Father of all, Who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Ephesians 4:6); "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created" (Revelation 4:11)

Nothing without a cause

Divine rule is always joined to divine purpose! To put it another way, there is always a reason for God's workings. " . . . and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done . . . " (Ezek. 14:23). As Sovereign, God never acts with caprice, without thought, or in disassociation of His "eternal purpose." Men may act without a cause, but God does not. His Sovereighty is never to be viewed apart from His Person and purpose. Sometimes, as with the death of our Savior, that cause is expounded in detail. Other times, as in the death of James, it is not. But in both cases, divine cause prevailed. Jesus foretold the destruction of Jerusalem, and told WHY it was determined (Luke 19:44). Similar reasons are not provided for the destruction of other cities. The calamities of Job and Paul are also explained in some detail (Job 1-2; James 5:11; 2 Cor. 12), while the deprivation of many ancient believers is not (Heb. 11:36- 38). The day of judgement will confirm that divine cause supported every disaster, trial, and difficulty. This is God's world (Psa. 24:1), and nothing occurs independently of His government--even to the falling of a sparrow (Matt. 10:29).

Do not abuse the doctrine!

This is not to be an occasion for small and unprofitable thought. If you break your leg, you are not to conclude that God determined that your leg would be broken. You are, however, to conclude that it was not broken without His awareness and government. You can rest assured that if Satan had his way, and if God were not sovereign, you would have broken more than your leg. By focusing on Christ and His great salvation, you will be liberated from bypaths of thought that are not profitable.

-- TOMORROW: IN GOVERNING THE WORLD --