I know I just quoted a Francis Chan quote from his book, Crazy Love, but I had to again. This one hit home. It was one of those 'whoa' moments for me. Those moments that if I were with my niece in nephew they would with great exaggeration throw out their arms, fluff up their chest and exclaim "BOOM! POP!" And if we aren't 8 or 10, maybe a simple, "Mic Drop." would suffice.
I literally read this and felt conviction. Did a head nod. And went "huh." So read his words below. I threw in a the Boom. Pop. so you knew exactly when his words squeezed my heart and made me self-check. There is nothing like a good convicting challenge.
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"Colossians 1:16 tells us that everything was created for God: "For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers of rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him."
Don't we live instead as though God is created for us, to do our bidding, to bless us, and to take care of our loved ones?
Psalm 115:3 reveals, "Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him." Yet we keep on questioning Him: "why did You make me with this body, instead of that one?" "Why are so many people dying of starvation?" "Why are there so many planets with nothing living on them?" "Why is my family so messed up?" "Why don't You make Yourself more obvious to the people who need You?"
The answer to each of these questions is simply this: because He's God. He has more of a right to ask us why so many people are starving. As much as we want God to explain Himself to us, His creation, we are in no place to demand that He give an account to us.
"All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: "What have you done?" - Daniel 4:35
(get ready for it)
Can you worship a God who isn't obligated to explain His actions to you? Could it be your arrogance (Boom. Pop.) that makes you think God owes you an explanation?
Do you really believe that compared to God, "all the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing," including you?
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Hard hitting right?! But how often do we question God. We might not be doing it in a way where we question his existence or even his goodness but we still do it. When Chan wrote "He has more of a right to ask us why so many people are starving..." that put things quickly into perspective. So often in life, we question and quickly point our fingers else where. Today, I challenge us to turn our questions inward.
This world is broken and sinful. More questions are bound to rise up in our brains. And I think it's okay. But when the questions come, train your brain not to accuse but rather look up to a loving, eternal, all-powerful, just God and praise him for his sovereignty and hope.
Then maybe even dare to take action.