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12-06-2007, 10:31 AM
TURN THOU TO THY GOD
“Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.” Hosea 12: 6
Throughout God’s Word is the call to “turn from the ways of evil” unto God, that He might have mercy upon us and deliver us from the power of sin. But, He also calls us unto Himself that we might know through faith, the exceeding greatness of His power and be “more than conquerors through Him that loved us” [Rom. 8:37].
Job throughout his devastating trial at the hands of Satan finally ‘turns to God’ in complete surrender and cries out … “I have heard thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes” [Job 42:5-6]. The excruciating experiences he went through acted as a purifying fire that opened his heart, and he turns to God, to all God wanted to do through him.
Moses saw a bush in the desert, which he had seen many times before. This one was on fire but not being consumed. And Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up … God called to him from within the bush, Moses! Moses! And Moses said, Here I am. “Do not come closer.” God said. “Take off thy sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground” … At this Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God” [Ex.3:2-6]. As Moses turns to see this great sight, he instead turns to God.
Saul (Paul) encountered God on the road to Damascus to persecute the Christians when God confronts him. “Suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” [Acts 9: 3-5]. Saul turns to Jesus and his life is changed from a persecutor of Christians to an Apostle of God. He had met God on His terms in complete submission to God and his life is radically changed for the glory of God.
When you think through these encounters of Job, Saul, and Moses, one thing stands foremost! When they each encountered God, they saw God and recognized Who God Is. In response God revealed unto them who they were. God was not interested in who they were or what they had or the gifts they may have possessed. They each had the opportunity to respond according to their own free will. As they fell in complete surrender prostrate before Him, God took them from what they were and made them into what He wanted them to be.
It is the same today. We often think we have to be, or we have to do certain things to gain God’s acceptance, approval, or merit His grace. Nothing could be further from the truth! God simply wants the surrender of our heart and will to His lordship, to His divine authority. He wants to control our lives and lead us in the “paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” He wants us to “turn aside and see this great thing.” And what does He want us to see? The working of His mighty power within us to His glory! Wow! That’s incredible. But, this will not take place until we “Turn thou unto thy God, keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.”
Not to do so is to miss out on all God wants to do in and through you! Paul said, “It is written: No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for them that love him. But God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.” [1 Cor.2: 9-10].
Let me ask you. Have you turned aside in the surrender of your all that you might be all God wants you to be? Your life will never be the same when Christ is the Lord of all.
2007 by Ed Powell
“Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.” Hosea 12: 6
Throughout God’s Word is the call to “turn from the ways of evil” unto God, that He might have mercy upon us and deliver us from the power of sin. But, He also calls us unto Himself that we might know through faith, the exceeding greatness of His power and be “more than conquerors through Him that loved us” [Rom. 8:37].
Job throughout his devastating trial at the hands of Satan finally ‘turns to God’ in complete surrender and cries out … “I have heard thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes” [Job 42:5-6]. The excruciating experiences he went through acted as a purifying fire that opened his heart, and he turns to God, to all God wanted to do through him.
Moses saw a bush in the desert, which he had seen many times before. This one was on fire but not being consumed. And Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up … God called to him from within the bush, Moses! Moses! And Moses said, Here I am. “Do not come closer.” God said. “Take off thy sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground” … At this Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God” [Ex.3:2-6]. As Moses turns to see this great sight, he instead turns to God.
Saul (Paul) encountered God on the road to Damascus to persecute the Christians when God confronts him. “Suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” [Acts 9: 3-5]. Saul turns to Jesus and his life is changed from a persecutor of Christians to an Apostle of God. He had met God on His terms in complete submission to God and his life is radically changed for the glory of God.
When you think through these encounters of Job, Saul, and Moses, one thing stands foremost! When they each encountered God, they saw God and recognized Who God Is. In response God revealed unto them who they were. God was not interested in who they were or what they had or the gifts they may have possessed. They each had the opportunity to respond according to their own free will. As they fell in complete surrender prostrate before Him, God took them from what they were and made them into what He wanted them to be.
It is the same today. We often think we have to be, or we have to do certain things to gain God’s acceptance, approval, or merit His grace. Nothing could be further from the truth! God simply wants the surrender of our heart and will to His lordship, to His divine authority. He wants to control our lives and lead us in the “paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” He wants us to “turn aside and see this great thing.” And what does He want us to see? The working of His mighty power within us to His glory! Wow! That’s incredible. But, this will not take place until we “Turn thou unto thy God, keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.”
Not to do so is to miss out on all God wants to do in and through you! Paul said, “It is written: No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for them that love him. But God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.” [1 Cor.2: 9-10].
Let me ask you. Have you turned aside in the surrender of your all that you might be all God wants you to be? Your life will never be the same when Christ is the Lord of all.
2007 by Ed Powell