In my language this attribute of God cannot be translated with one word.  We take it to mean “His overruling control of our circumstances” .

I can only explained lifefrom that angle.  Sometimes I wish I had much more experience and spiritual growth when I as a young man joined the so called “boot camp” of New Tribes Mission.  My immaturity didn´t surprise God, for  I was under the same loving providence shared by all honest saints –  in the Bible itself and elsewhere in the economy of God.

I do grieve at my many blunders and stumbling blocks I´ve caused within the body of Christ.  How I wished I could do the past over again, but still God didn´t drive away His erring child.  His providence overruled, and I say today say like Wm. Cowper in his precious song, “God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform…”  I feel very related to that message from a man often deeply weighed down in his soul.

But even at that training center in the U.S. I was conscious of my many shortcomings, and when I confided to a dear Indian preacher in N.C. , he smiled and said, “Remember what Paul said, “I have learned…”  (Phil. 4:11).  Indeed, we are just learners and His imperfect trainees.

I´m pondering on Rom. 8:28 these days speaking of the providence of God.  “All things” working for good mean all things, but the promise is reserved for “those who love Him.”  It doesn´t say “those who love Him whole heartedly” or “enough”. How many do that?  As I grow older, I painfully acknowledge the provision made by our great High Priest for the sins that cleave to our gifts ( (“the iniquity of the holy things”), Ex 28:38.

Matthew Henry has this precious commentary, “We cannot but be conscious to ourselves of much iniquity cleaving to our most holy things.”  With all our failures and imperfect love we keep throwing ourselves into the arms of Jesus whom we love, because He loved us first. 1 John 4:19

April 29, 2021 - jn