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Refreshment in Refuge
by Gina Burgess
I had a question years ago concerning the difference between God’s will and His perfect will, or even if there was a difference. I finally grappled to the conclusion that God’s perfect will happened when His children were in perfect obedience to Him. Mary was given a choice whether to be used of God to bear His Son. She gently agreed regardless of the personal cost to her. “Let it be as you say,” she told the Angel of the Lord. Jesus’ father, Joseph, is another flawless example of this kind of obedience. If he had not immediately obeyed the Lord’s command to, “Go get your bride,” but instead had quietly divorced Mary, then God’s perfect will would not have come to pass.
This reasoning includes the bald, unadulterated fact that God chose Jesus’ parents with the omniscience that the two would not have stubborn necks, but would obey Him implicitly. I don’t think many would disagree with me here.
What a lot of folks forget about is God's unfolding will. His unfolding will is more complicated.
Each second in time, God has provided for all eventualities for the fruition of His perfect will. He knows who will refuse to obey Him, and He provides for His will regardless of obedience or disobedience of others. In the Christmas story other variables are Caesar Augustus who ordered the census that would bring Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem; King Herod’s rage at a baby who was born a king; the magi who brought the wherewithal that provided for Joseph, Mary, and Jesus while escaping the rage of Herod. Regardless of the choices made by these individuals, God’s perfect will was done. All the prophecies unfolded as set down centuries before.
Amazingly, humankind has been given this wonderful gift of freedom of choice. God is quite vocal in His warnings against certain choices as well as His teachings and blessings for different choices. He gives us excellent examples of consequences of each choice. He shows us what happens when we are too prideful, and what happens when we follow His guidance. Therefore, we can make wholesome choices and make wise life decisions. It all culminates from one simple, but life changing decision: Do you want the best God has to offer, or will you insist on taking Me-My-I Road?
A truth that we can cherish is that God's best for us does not depend upon fickle man.
Since God knows what will happen, how it will happen and who will do what, He planned accordingly. All I must do is be ready, willing and able to bend my will to God's. That means I must want the best He offers no matter the cost. It is the same for you.
No matter the cost. That is a huge and scary thing. Do you cringe at the pin pricks? Do you run from the sword stabs? No matter how tormenting a situation may seem... it is always for our best interest. Whether God allows us to endure consequences of our bad choices, or whether God pours out blessings on our choices that are based on His guidance... the outcome is the same. It is for our best.
I want God's best... no matter the cost.
When Noah sacrificed after the flood, GOD smelled the sweet fragrance and thought to himself, "I'll never again curse the ground because of people. I know they have this bent toward evil from an early age, but I'll never again kill off everything living as I've just done. (Genesis 8:21 MSG)
Was it really the smoking meat of the burnt offering that was sweet smelling to God?
No, of course not. It was Noah's obedience that was the sweet fragrance. God loves obedience. Lest we over step here, God does not love us because of our obedience. He loves us in spite of our sinfulness and ugliness. He loved us first, then He sent His Son. That was the greatest gift of all.
What was Jesus but a wondrous sacrifice, an offering from God to pitiful and ragged humankind. Then the sweetness of the Messiah's obedience rose up as the sweetest perfume from anywhere on earth or in heaven. The cost of it was beyond price, the benefit of it has no price.
If you have not opened that Gift, then don’t wait any longer. There is no other like it. The blessings will be poured out from Heaven into your life. If you have opened that gift, then take a few minutes to count all those blessings. That brings glory to the Lord.
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Gina Burgess has taught Sunday School and Discipleship Training for almost three decades. (Don't tell her that makes her old.) She earned her Master's in Communication in 2013.
She is the author of several books including: When Christians Hurt Christians, The Crowns of the Believers and others available in online bookstores. She authors several columns, using her God-given talent to shine a light in a dark world. You can browse her blog at Refreshment In Refuge.
If you'd like to take a look at some Christian fiction and Christian non-fiction book reviews check out Gina's book reviews at Upon
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