Embracing the Ordinary: Trusting God's Divine Plan

Devotional

Sermon Summary

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips


He was a man being used by God, you know, and that's not really uncommon today. But the fact is, the man himself, he didn't have a clue. I'm sure, I'm confident, I'm 100% certain in my own mind, he didn't have a clue that he was being used by God when he walked down that street, finding his way through the milling crowd carrying his water pot, no doubt full at this stage. [00:10:34]

There are decisions that we make, we have made and we continue to make. Sometimes they even seem to be a bad decision. I don't know whether you've had that experience. I certainly have, and you think, you know, I think I made a mistake in doing such and such, and so and so. It seemed to be a mistake at the time. [00:12:02]

God knows what he's doing, and even strange things that we do, even things we perceive or decide were probably wrong, God in his genius is able to weave these issues, these situations together into the great garment of his will and his purpose. And I think that is absolutely amazing. [00:15:06]

Although we may meet people in the course of our journey who, to all intents and purposes, may, you know, humanly seem to be non-descript people, but if you look a little more closely or if you're permitted to look a little more closely, you discover that they actually have distinctive marks, distinctive features. [00:16:03]

You sense deep in your spirit that God is, God is indeed weaving something. He's producing something which one day will come to fruition in an even greater way. And I think the, if I'm permitted, I'm a great grandfather, so maybe you can sort of say a few things that your great-grandfather imagines are wisdom. [00:17:57]

When that person's life somehow came so close to mine, and I engaged with them, I put myself in lockstep with them, and sooner or later you begin to discover the remarkable significance and the hand of God in making that possible. You know, Jesus gave some wonderful, wonderful advice. [00:18:56]

He said this on one occasion, and I put this into my own words. He said, should you find in a field somewhere a pearl of great price, he said, in effect, leave the field, run for all your worth, get all your money together and buy that field. That was the way to possess it. [00:19:28]

The fact is that these disciples follow Jesus' instructions. They go into town, they see a man who's in the middle of the crowd and he's carrying a water pot. Jesus told them follow him, so they follow him. I don't know how far they needed to walk or how long the journey was, but sooner or later he entered into a building. [00:20:26]

I think if it happened like that, I would say, did you catch a little smile on Jesus' face as he said it? You know, this is Jesus, this is our Jesus, amen. I'm remembering the words of scripture from Isaiah chapter 55, you know, you remember it, where is it, verse 9, whereas the heavens are higher than the earth. [00:24:51]

How often have you looked back and you recognize just the stunning convergence of factors that the sovereign God has been working all things to serve his will. My response to the Lord is pity me, Lord, pity me, you know, in so many cases I speak for myself, I likely speak for many of you as well. [00:25:47]

We rob ourselves of so much by our reasoning, by our, you know, let's, we just think too much, I think. But we like to live safe, don't we? Especially as we get older, I think we'd like everything to be neat and tidy, and then the Lord does something that overturns the table. [00:27:11]

God has chosen you. You're not required to contribute anything to this. You know, the fact that you feel yourself or sent yourself to be unworthy is irrelevant to the divine purpose. He's not looking for you to contribute anything. He just wants to speak to you because he's chosen you. [00:35:27]

Ask a question about this sermon