Permission Slips.... Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers. - Luke 22:31-32 Satan has asked... observed Jesus. We can be certain that the old snake didnt check in with God out of politeness or protocol. He had to get permission and this means the devil operates under constraints. He cant do what he wants whenever he wishes. He has to clear it with God. Dont think this means God and the devil are in cahoots. No way. And dont think that God is somehow on the side of darkness because He makes the devil come to Him for permission. God must control evil. And He does so because He is good. Imagine a God who didnt deliberately permit the smallest details of your particular sorrows. What if your trials werent screened by Him? Think what this would mean. First, the devil would be without constraints, free to do whatever he pleased. This means the world would be much worse than its present state of war, violence, greed and misery. Left to his own, the devil would make Jobs of us all! I breathe a great sigh of relief over todays verse. It teaches me that evil can only raise its ugly head where God deliberately backs away for a specific and intentional reason -- always for reasons that are wise and good, even if hidden from this present life. If God didnt control evil, the result would be evil uncontrolled. And so, God permits what He hates to achieve that which He loves -- its just that most of us wont always see it until the other side of eternity. _____________________________ Think for a moment about the balance of painful and joyful things in your life. Think of how, by Gods grace, you are managing your problems. And now, consider how it could be worse. Were it not for God, it would be. Lord, I praise You for making the devil operate under constraints. Blessings, Joni and Friends
Posted on: Tue, 29 Oct 2013 14:23:59 +0000
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