Give thanks in all circumstances!

The post for today, following on from the previous one, had already been prepared by Thursday evening.  This was because I "knew" that we would be travelling to France over the ensuing couple of days, and that I wouldn't have a lot of time to work on it. However, if I may quote the Scottish Bard, Rabbie Burns, "The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men gang aft agley,"! (free translation: No matter how carefully we make our plans, be we a mouse or a man, they have a habit of turning pear-shaped"! from his poem: "To a mouse").

Now, let me assure those who might seek such assurance, that our plans are always made with the proviso: "God willing" (often using the letters from the Latin version - D.V.), as we are instructed, in God's Word, to do just that. James writes, wisely: "...you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and we shall do this or that.” (4:15).

This is why I placed the word "knew" in quotation marks, in the first paragraph. I thought I knew - but events proved both the truth of Burns' words, and the wisdom of those written by James! For whatever reason, it would seem that our leaving at the time arranged was not the Lord's will for us! So, what happened?!

Well, we had our wee campervan loaded up; the empty baggage trailer was hitched on; and we left at about 0900. So far, so good. I topped up the fuel tank, and we headed south. All went well until we were on the A66, crossing the Pennines, and about 30 miles away from Scotch Corner. Suddenly, I noticed a warning light on the dashboard! Well, I enjoy driving but, when there is a problem … !!!

I did drive on until I came to a layby in which I could safely park, and telephoned the breakdown provider which I had arranged when I insured the vehicle. To cut a long story short, a mechanic arrived and tried something that he thought/hoped would rectify the problem. I then set off again, with the mechanic following closely behind in the breakdown truck. It wasn't too many minutes before the warning light was again showing, so I pulled in at a convenient road-end, and the mechanic pulled in behind me. After further tests, his advice was that we return home! We decided that this was wise advice and so I unhitched the trailer; the car was loaded on to the truck; the trailer was attached to the tow ball on the truck; and we set off for a Services on the M6. Here, because of distance regulations for the tow-truck, we transferred to another one, and completed the journey home.

The van is now outside my preferred garage, and I plan to be there tomorrow (Monday) morning, to take it across the road and let my own mechanic tell me how long the necessary repairs will take (and how much they will cost!!).

So I have been giving thanks. "Giving thanks?!", some may ask. "After all of that, and the upset to all of your plans, how can you honestly give thanks?" Well, I recalled a story about the prince of Bible Commentators, Matthew Henry.

(see https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/1996/march/1394.html)

So, I was able to give thanks that the engine failed on this side of the English Channel(La Manche). This is because although I had breakdown cover for within the UK, the age of the van meant that such was not available in France, or any other country in continental Europe. If the engine had failed, just as we disembarked from the ferry, it would have cost me a small fortune, and tested my French language skills, to arrange for a breakdown truck to take us to a local garage, and to pay for the work to be done there. Thank You, Lord.

I was also able to give thanks that it was only an engine fault, and not an accident with the potential to leave one, or both, of us badly injured. A mechanical fault is something that is much easier to deal with than a broken body! Thank You, Lord.

Of course, I was thankful that the two breakdown men were so friendly and helpful. Each of them ensured that we were take safely to our specific destination. Thank You, Lord.

I am thankful that the ferry company has already agreed to change our bookings - both to, and from France - for a small administrative fee. Thank You, Lord.

I am thankful that friends with whom we had arranged to stay; have lunch; visit; have accepted, so graciously, the unexpected situation. Thank You, Lord.

Above all, I am thankful that our heavenly Father is in control. We were "caught out" - but He wasn't. I have no doubt that, at some point, sooner or later, we will be able to look back, and be grateful that events transpired as they did. Thank You, Lord.

"Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God, in Christ Jesus, for you." (I Thess.5:16-18; emphasis added)

[The planned post on prayer will, D.V., be shared next time!  If you watched the interview with me, in the Congress, please feel free to offer some feedback. Thank you.]

Prayer that "works"!

When I was in the British Mercantile Marine (aka the Merchant Navy), I was a very immature disciple of Jesus. However, I attended the on-board Sunday "Divine Service" as a witness to my feeble faith. This, of course, marked me out, and I would sometimes be asked if I would pray - not for healing, or guidance, or spiritual strength, but that such and such a horse would win such and such a race, as my shipmate had placed a large bet on that happening! 

I suspect that there are even fellow disciples of Jesus who think of prayer in the same way! It's asking for something, and expecting to receive it. This has led to the situation in which prayer is only answered if we receive that for which we asked!

Now, some might point to the words of the Lord Jesus, as recorded in Matthew 7:8 - "For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." However, it is always dangerous to lift a single verse, and base any decision on it, without recourse to other parts of God's Word that explain, and qualify, the verse in question.

It is not all asking that receives, for there is asking - such as I was requested to make - that is not true prayer. Some ask merely in word, with no real desire in their hearts. Some - like my former shipmates - ask selfishly, that they may use this wonderful privilege to satisfy their own desires. Others ask rebelliously, without submission to the will of Father God. Then there are those who ask without faith - not really expecting any answer. Some ask in laziness, not ready to play their own part. Yet others ask ignorantly for things that would nt be a blessing if they were to receive them. It is surely clear that those who ask in any of these ways will not receive!

Similarly, not all who seek find! The seeking must be earnest. Speaking through His prophet, Jeremiah, YHWH says: "You will seek me and find me; when you seek me with all your heart," (29:13; emphasis added).The seeking must also be for good things. If we seek that which is sinful, or that would work spiritual harm in us, Father God will not give us what we seek. Then, again, we must be living lives that seek to honour Him. The Sons of Korah remind us that: "No good thing does the Lord withhold from those who walk uprightly." (Ps.84:11; emphasis added). The thing that we seek must be good, and we must walk in the path of obedience, or there is no promise of reward for our quest.

Finally, Father God does not open the door to all knocking. There are knocks like those of mischievous children, who knock at a door (or ring the door-bell),and then run away, not really having wanted to enter! It is also all too easy to knock at the wrong door! It is when we knock at the right door, with expectancy, and faith, and persistence, that the door is graciously opened. 

Thus, in interpreting the wonderful prayer-promise that the Lord Jesus gave, we must read into those words their true meaning. If we are to receive positive answers, then our asking, seeking, and knocking, must be true prayer! 

We'll continue with this topic, DV, next time!