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Together in tandem
Throughout God's Word, we witness a healthy tension between God's sovereign work and mankind's responsibility towards it. The realities of God's sovereignty and man's responsibility work in tandem, never contradicting but always complimenting each other for the purpose of establishing a reciprocal relationship between God and man.
We see a picture of this in Psalm 81:10 as the Psalmist evokes the imagery of a parent bird feeding its young. This image describes the Lord's provision for His people. But notice the element of responsibility placed upon man: "Open your mouth wide." There's a part of God's work within us that requires us to open up to Him, not with our mouths, but with our heart.
Also, notice the element of God's sovereign work: "I will fill it." We are unable to fill ourselves with anything of spiritual substance. It must be something placed within us from Heaven, something that can only come from the hand of God. And as we open up to Him, He is always faithful to satisfy us as we partake in His great goodness.
The responsibility of man and the sovereignty of God are tandem realities. And these tandem realities should be not just in terms of doctrine but also in terms of our experience. As we're open to the Lord, He will always fill us. And may we never forget that those who are most open to the things of God will also be those who are most full.
Sovereign God, we want to be open to You in every way we possibly can. Show us if there's anything in us that would get in the way of that, and continue to fill our hearts as only You can.
The realities of God's sovereignty and man's responsibility work in tandem, never contradicting but always complimenting each other for the purpose of establishing a reciprocal relationship between God and man.
Think about it... What does this passage reveal to me about God? What does this passage reveal to me about myself? Based on this, what changes do I need to make? What is my prayer for today?
Throughout God's Word, we witness a healthy tension between God's sovereign work and mankind's responsibility towards it. The realities of God's sovereignty and man's responsibility work in tandem, never contradicting but always complimenting each other for the purpose of establishing a reciprocal relationship between God and man.
We see a picture of this in Psalm 81:10 as the Psalmist evokes the imagery of a parent bird feeding its young. This image describes the Lord's provision for His people. But notice the element of responsibility placed upon man: "Open your mouth wide." There's a part of God's work within us that requires us to open up to Him, not with our mouths, but with our heart.
Also, notice the element of God's sovereign work: "I will fill it." We are unable to fill ourselves with anything of spiritual substance. It must be something placed within us from Heaven, something that can only come from the hand of God. And as we open up to Him, He is always faithful to satisfy us as we partake in His great goodness.
The responsibility of man and the sovereignty of God are tandem realities. And these tandem realities should be not just in terms of doctrine but also in terms of our experience. As we're open to the Lord, He will always fill us. And may we never forget that those who are most open to the things of God will also be those who are most full.
Sovereign God, we want to be open to You in every way we possibly can. Show us if there's anything in us that would get in the way of that, and continue to fill our hearts as only You can.
The realities of God's sovereignty and man's responsibility work in tandem, never contradicting but always complimenting each other for the purpose of establishing a reciprocal relationship between God and man.
Think about it... What does this passage reveal to me about God? What does this passage reveal to me about myself? Based on this, what changes do I need to make? What is my prayer for today?
Scripture
About this Plan
Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, founded in 1985, has grown to be one of the largest churches in the country, and now has nine regional campuses in Florida in addition to the main campus in Fort Lauderdale. The church has established and now operates dozens of ministries to answer the needs for foster care, addiction recovery, and discipleship training. The church's mission is simply, "make disciples."
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We would like to thank Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale for providing this daily devotional. For more information about the church and other media resources it provides for personal discipleship, please visit www.calvaryftl.org
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