THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD Devotion #16 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)

Heart preparation and the tongue

"The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord." (Prov. 16:1) By saying "to man belong the plans of the heart" (NIV) the Spirit means that this is an area of responsibility for mankind. The KJV is much clearer on this; "The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue is from the Lord." God can get people ready to hear, and enable them to give the right response-. To look at it another way, God can also prepare the heart of the listener and the tongue of the speaker. The Lord can produce circumstances that will constrain Jonah to choose to go to Nineveh (Jonah 1 & 2). "The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue is from the Lord." He can get the eunuch ready to hear the Gospel, and Philip ready to preach it (Acts 8:26-39). "The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue is from the Lord." He can prepare Saul of Tarsus by making it difficult for him to "hard" to "kick against the goads" (Acts 9:5). "The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue is from the Lord."

Gives a knowing heart

"I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart." (Jer. 24:7) I realize that man's will is involved in this process. However, God is also involved! The inclusion of man's will does not mean the exclusion of God's power and influence. It is God that gives man a heart capable of knowing Him. If this is the case, let us devote ourselves to His work. That is the appointed means through which this wonderful heart is bestowed. Too, let us pray God will open the eyes of the heart, that the redeemed can more fully know what God has prepared for those who love Him (Eph 1:15-20).

Puts fear into the heart

"And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me." (Jer. 32:40) Are there individuals within the circle of your influence that have turned away from God? Have you labored in vain to bring them back? Do not be discouraged! God is sovereign. He is able to "inspire them to fear" Him; fear Him enough never to turn from Him again! This is a promise He made to Israel, but it is certainly not confined to them. The Lord has divulged something of His Person in this text--declared what he is able, and inclined, to do. He will use means to accomplish this great work, but it is He that will do it.

CONCLUSION

It is unfortunate that men often choose to argue about truth rather than accept it. By so doing, they rob themselves, for truth cannot work in the womb of unbelief. Properly understood, the sovereignty of God provides a basis for confidence and hope. We can shout in the language of faith, "If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, Who is even at the right hand of God, Who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? . . . Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:31-39). These affirmations are supported by the sovereignty of our God, and cannot fail of fulfillment. Embrace the Savior, and you can embrace these truths!

--TOMORROW: DIVINE SOVEREIGNTY HAS WROUGHT SALVATION --