God’s Amazing Providence
12/23 Reading Portions: 2 Chronicles 27-28; Revelation 14; Zechariah 10; John 13
Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
12/23 Reading Portions: 2 Chronicles 27-28; Revelation 14; Zechariah 10; John 13
Zechariah 10:1
Ask rain from the LORD in the season of the spring rain, from the LORD who makes the storm clouds, and he will give them showers of rain, to everyone the vegetation in the field.
LOVE
The prophet provides an interesting insight into prayer and the providence of God. Our great God, who established the appointed times of seasons when He created the sun, moon and stars on the fourth day of creation, says pray for the spring rain (latter rain, KJV). Even though it is naturally the time for the spring rain, the LORD says, “Ask rain from the LORD.” Why? He is involving His people in His gospel plans. We are allowed the glorious privilege to be part of all the goodness and blessings He has established in, through, and by the Lord Jesus Christ.
The amazing details of Christ’s kingdom have been set in motion within our linear time reference from the moment God commanded, “Light be!” By God’s grace, the Lord saved my soul on June 3, 1985, and called me to preach several years afterward. His amazing grace and providence would bring my wife and me to Alaska in 2002; yet circumstances in His good providence would cause us to leave in 2008 amid a powerful work of God in Christ. His providence brought us to Alabama in 2009. This allowed me the privilege to see a young man, called of the Lord to preach… and preach Christ and Him crucified far better than I could ever hope to preach; a young man who came to our little congregation with the intent of being in a church he knew would be supportive of his raising a family in godly and biblical pursuits— whenever God’s grace and providence brought to him a wife of honor. Sometime around 2011 or 2012, I preached two messages at a conference at a church (a few years before the young man began attending the church where I ministered), not realizing that one of the families I met at that church would have a desire to one day visit our church in Anniston, Alabama. When this family came, it was the week after Lisa and I had already left to return to minister in Alaska, in early 2018. This family heard the preaching of this young man, who was now the interim pastor in my stead. Now, several years later, the godly young preacher married one of the daughters of that family and he has also served faithfully as the pastor of Sovereign Grace Baptist Church for the past 7 years. The young preacher’s prayers had been answered. The young woman’s prayers for a godly husband were also answered. And all kinds of prayers, unbeknownst to those involved, were answered.
The showers of this kind of rain are truly tears of joy, which stain my cheeks even as I type. That we may be used mightily of our Lord Jesus Christ in such a way, who gives us showers of rain when we ask, and provides to everyone the fruit of the Spirit while we still live in this world (the vegetation in the field) until Christ’s return— for God’s great glory. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Amazing grace! how sweet it moves
God’s providential plans;
Christ answers prayers and He proves
His lavish love, most grand!