Throughout this series we have pointed toward the exceeding beauty of the Glory as displayed in the Face of Christ; so that it is desired, sought after and pursued with such diligence that exceeds all other desires for that which is counterfeit with vain promises of love, joy, and glory.  It was by grace and grace alone that God had poured out all His Righteous judgement upon Christ so that Justice might be satisfied; thus, magnifying the Glory of Christ to beyond our comprehension.  We by seeking after and gazing upon that Glory as can only be demonstrated in the face of Christ are being transformed into His image, day by day; step by step; sometimes through great trials we journey on our road to comprehension of that magnificent Glory with all the Love and Joy that God desires to pour upon us.  So, if God truly created mankind to pour out upon him love, joy, and glory; then, why being omnipotent did God ever even allow evil to exist?  Such a question has been pondered and written about by much greater minds than I; yet, I feel any discussion of God’s Glory must include this chapter.  Yet, if we go back to the Garden of Eden before Adam chose to disobey God and we are told that God walked with Adam in the Garden with God every evening; then, if Adam truly understood that the Privilege, the Joy and the love which he had with God–then Adam would never have taken that bite.  He would never have chosen the creation over the creator were he able to comprehend the magnitude of the beauty of the Glory of God.   Let me try to explain with an example.  We all know that darkness is the absence of light.  In actuality, darkness itself does not exist except in the absence of light.  If you were always in light and never experienced darkness would you appreciate the beauty and the clarity which light brings.  Evil is the absence of Righteousness and since God is perfect Righteousness, evil is the absence of God.  Yet, can we see the beauty of righteousness, if we have never known or experienced the absence of it in our lives?  Jonathan Edwards once wrote:

"It is a proper and excellent thing for infinite glory to shine forth; and for the same reason, it is proper that the shining forth of God’s glory should be complete; that is, that all parts of his glory should shine forth, that every beauty should be proportionably effulgent [=radiant], that the beholder may have a proper notion of God. It is not proper that one glory should be exceedingly manifested, and another not at all. . .

Thus it is necessary, that God’s awful majesty, his authority and dreadful greatness, justice, and holiness, should be manifested. But this could not be, unless sin and punishment had been decreed; so that the shining forth of God’s glory would be very imperfect, both because these parts of divine glory would not shine forth as the others do, and also the glory of his goodness, love, and holiness would be faint without them; nay, they could scarcely shine forth at all.

If it were not right that God should decree and permit and punish sin, there could be no manifestation of God’s holiness in hatred of sin, or in showing any preference, in his providence, of godliness before it. There would be no manifestation of God’s grace or true goodness, if there was no sin to be pardoned, no misery to be saved from. How much happiness soever he bestowed, his goodness would not be so much prized and admired, and the sense of it not so great . . .

So evil is necessary, in order to the highest happiness of the creature, and the completeness of that communication of God, for which he made the world; because the creature’s happiness consists in the knowledge of God, and the sense of his love. And if the knowledge of him be imperfect, the happiness of the creature must be proportionably imperfect. (Jonathan Edwards, "Concerning the Divine Decrees," in The Works of Jonathan Edwards (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1974), p. 528)

Paul in Romans

Could it be that our understanding and our ability to fully comprehend the Magnificent Glory of God and to be bathed in His Joy and Love to our greatest happiness; it was necessary that evil exist?  Would I know what grace was were I to have never known sin?  Could I really seek after, hunger for and Savor Christ with such devotion had I not known the magnificent beauty of His Glory displayed by His sacrificial Grace? But as Paul we must ask  Romans 3: 5 But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance?  Never, because it was still a choice made by each and every man who chose darkness over light and who chose unrighteousness over righteousness.  Were someone to go out and murder an innocent child and the justice system found them guilty–the justice system would be commended for their just act of righteousness and we would never say that because they are commended then they would be wrong in their carrying out the sentence.   Mankind, from Adam through now have had a choice to choose to worship the creation or the creator.  God had not created evil; rather, evil was a choice of rejecting the only source of true righteousness.  Look at Paul’s explanation in Romans 1:  16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Indeed, it is God’s Love, Grace, and desire to pour out His love upon mankind that He tarries in His final destruction of all that is evil.  Deuteronomy 32:"35 To me belongeth vengeance and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste."  So if God tarry in judgement it is His mercy and His pleasure to wait one more second.  Perhaps He is waiting that you fall before Him and repent of your sins, that you might receive His gift of salvation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTJUIYTtLv4

Glory to Glory is a lifestyle surrendered to the transforming work of Christ in the life of the believer.  It begins from the moment of salvation and draws us ever closer to Christ by transforming our hearts ever so slowly at times into a heart that longs for, seeks after, hungers to know Christ in all His beauty, majesty, and Glory.  As He becomes our greatest treasure, we begin to lay aside all searching after counterfeit joys.  As God’s Glory is magnified in our hearts, we become transformed.  Yet, the mystery remains as to why key in our transformation and key in our seeking Christ there is suffering that we must endure on this earth.  Some of the self-righteous would try to tell you that God only sends trials when we are living contrary to Him; but, I fear they do not know Him well enough.  True, like the Gentle shepherd and Father He intervenes with His guiding hand of discipline when we rebelliously sin against Him or when we wander off searching for greener pastures.  Yet, not all sorrows and trials come as a result of rebellion; rather, only God knows what is needed to transform each heart to be able to fully experience the Glory of God and what is needed to prepare us to see Him in all His Splendor.  So, yes; if you follow Christ, suffering and pain will be a part of your life and it is for that reason that the moanings are heard by us, the creature (so caught up in our self-centered covetousness) that we must have the counterfeit treasures ripped from our hands sometimes, so that we might seek the only treasure that will satisfy.  The entire creation is moaning for the day that delivers the heaven and earth from evil.  Yet, when we are in our greatest of despair; even the Holy Spirit groans with great wailing while interceding for us.  He it is that guides us, comforts us and groans with us.  I find that a very comforting thought.  

Romans 8: 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Yet, the sufferings we may endure on this earth are fleeting compared to eternal glory, love, joy that is ours with Christ.  In that we stand with hope as God continues His refining work to ascertain one day we are ready to experience Him in all His Glory.  So when trials come, keep these remembrances in mind.

Remembrance #1:  God is preparing you for Perfect Joy in His presence

Remembrance #2:  The Holy Spirit is with You, making intercession for you and to comfort you

Remembrance #3:  The sufferings we endure on this earth are but seconds compared to eternity with Him

Remembrance #4:  No suffering is too great for the salvation of one soul.

Remembrance #5:   He is the only treasure that matters and the only treasure that can fill our hearts with Joy, Hope, and Love in the midst of any circumstance

Remembrance #6:  Never forget the price Christ paid for your salvation; yet, a little while He is returning to take you home as we are merely pilgrims in route to our final destination. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rwmt_EvxGGA (Preview)

We may as Christians cheer the ending of Joseph and perhaps even accept the entire journey with all it’s trials because of the fact that he ended so well.  After all, we love a happy ending.  Yet, when we turn to look at the life of Stephen whose face was that of "an angel", who was full of faith and power we shudder at his being stoned.  We feel the same agony as we would feel as we watch a missionary who is tortured, a dear saint who is completely lost with Alzheimer’s, a dear patriach who slips away with advancing Parkinson’s, or the dear saint who dies agonizingly with cancer.  We struggle in our understanding.  We only want the happy ending.  We seek the miracle; yet, we do not understand how it is that God’s Glory and Grace may be fulfilled even in those sorrows that we cannot understand.  Still, we know that God is in control, His plan is one of good.  It is my hope that by looking at the displays of God’s grace and glory in the life and death of Stephen that you might be comforted as well.  First lets look at the Scripture recording this. 

Acts 6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people….

15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

Acts 7: 54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.

55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,

58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.

59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Acts 8: 8 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

Display #1; Stephen’s life was such that he was full of faith and power, doing great wonders and miracles.  God’s grace was displayed in the life of Stephen as God used Him and filled Him with the faith and grace needed every step of the way.  It was the Holy Spirit’s power within Stephen that gave him the grace so that he had the face of an angel, gentle yet strong, wise yet meek, and willing to face whatever came before him to follow after Christ.

Display #2:  The Holy Spirit was there.  The great comforter filled Stephen so that he was able to look into the heavens and see Christ standing on the right hand of God.  Christ had stood up from His throne to so that Stephen might see him clearly; knowing that the moments of torture which were to be his were nothing to compare with the Glory he was about to share with Christ in Heaven for eternity.  As though Christ stood up to cheer this dear saint as he reached the finish line.

Display#3:  As Stephen prayed that his murderers be forgiven, he displayed the grace that he understood because of the grace that God had given him by the finished work of Christ on the cross.  Stephen knew that his own salvation was not of works; but a gift of God.  If that was due to the gift of God by grace; then, he had no right to accuse those who did not know Christ.  Rather, it was his heart that bled because of their unbelief and he longed that they find Christ as well. 

Display #4:  One of the men in the crowd was Saul who would later become the Apostle Paul.  Saul the persecutor of the church would one day become one of God’s greatest writers of the New Testament.  God answered the prayer of Stephen when Saul was saved. 

Display #5:  Sometimes the tragedies of this life are for the good of the kingdom.  I am certain Paul never forgot the face of Stephen filled with glory and grace as he was stoned to death.  The seed planted that later lead to Saul’s conversion was planted by Stephen’s death.

So, when we don’t understand and we can’t see the plan we can trust the heart of God.  I am certain if you approached Stephen in heaven, he would tell you it was worth it all.  God displayed His Grace, His love, His mercy and His Glory to Stephen and through the life and death of Stephen.  Once more my question to you is do you know Him?  Do you love Him?  Are you willing to place your life, all of it into His hands?  Are you willing to lay aside all else to go where He asks you to go and do what He asks you to do?  If so, you will never regret a single moment of this journey.  Of this, I am certain; because I would walk every step of the way again, all of the pains, all of the sorrows, all of the moments when I couldn’t see my way—just for the chance to know Him as I know Him today.  I seek to know Him and to one day stand in His presence to know Him fully; for that reason, whatever path He lays before me—I will praise Him and I will trust Him.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8EDgciZZFc

Thus far, in this series;  we have looked at the fact that our hope is anchored upon the Glory of God as displayed in the face of Christ.  We are born with that great desire to seek after beauty, love, justice, and righteousness; yet, our search leads toward heartbreak until we realize that our longing is for God Himself who is the perfection of all these as well as perfect grace and mercy.  For those of us who have accepted God’s gracious gift of salvation, we are but pilgrims upon this earth preparing for our final destination.  Step by step, glory by glory God is preparing us to be able to see Him one day in all His Glory; wrapped in His Arms of love. This journey is to guide us into that place where we might fully comprehend and enjoy Him; though, dimly here on earth.  Like a blind person who has been given sight, the eyes must first be covered with dark glasses so the light won’t hurt.  So it is that God’s Glory is so bright that the eyes of our heart could not withstand the magnitude or relish in His Beauty and love were we not prepared to do so.  All of our life as a Christian is preparing us for eternity.   Our entire life is but a second compared to eternity with Him.  Ephesians 3: "16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God."  We began then in this series to look at various attributes of God that display His beauty as one to be desired.  We explored the beauty of His creation, His righteousness, His justice, His Power, His Love, His grace, His joy, and His wisdom.  When we begin to see Him as desirous, seek after Him with all our hearts and souls, accept Christ as our Savior (our only means of a relationship with Him); then, He begins the work within us to prepare our hearts and minds for an eternity in His presence.  There are moments within this journey that may seem painful or we may not understand; yet, it is God Himself who is orchestrating every tiny detail of our lives. Only He knows our heart and what it will take to prepare us for the maximum joy in His presence.  I want to step aside and show you in the life of Joseph and then later in the life of Stephen what that meant.

I told you in late July that events in my life caused me to feel much like Abraham when God had laid Isaac in His arms.  Then more recently, events in my own life caused me to remember Joseph’s life.  Joseph is an example of how God orchestrated every detail so as to place Joseph in the place where God needed Him to display all the attributes above mentioned of God, including grace.  Joseph was one of the son’s of Jacob who would be matriarch for the 12 tribes of Israel. As a young lad, he believed strongly in right and wrong; thus, he would report to his father anything bad his brothers were doing.  He was favored by His father above his other brothers and that lead to a lot of jealousy against him.  There came a time when he would have dreams that were glimpses of what God had in store for him; yet, those dreams showed his brothers bowing down before him and that made his brothers even more angry.  There came a moment when they saw their opportunity to rid themselves of him.  They considered killing him; yet, when they hesitated they threw him into a pit.  As they pondered what they would do a caravan of merchants (who by the way had been traveling months to arrive at that place at that moment) were passing by. The brothers then sold their brother to these merchants who then sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt.  Stop for a second and note, God had guided this band of heathen merchants so that they would arrive at that exact moment.  God is in control over even those who do not know Him and works out His will in the lives of His children through His use of even those who would do evil. Joseph was carried into Egypt and sold to Potiphar where God blessed all that he did and he rose to a high position.  Then, Potiphar’s wife found him handsome and wanted an affair with him.  When he refused, she accused him of trying to rape her and he was thrown into jail.  There he remained for years. There God showed him favor and he became the humble servant to the chief guard who trusted him.  Two men from the Pharaoh’s palace were put into jail and Joseph was able to interpret their dreams accurately.  He asked the butcher to remember him, Genesis 40 "14 But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:

15 For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon."   The butcher was released and forgot about Joseph until one day the Pharoah had a dream that no one could interpret.  Joseph was brought before the Pharoah, interpreted the dream, and placed in a position of prominence second only to Pharoah.   There he was, having prepared Egypt for the famine that entered the land when his brothers had to come to Egypt to seek food.  At first they did not recognize him and he did not reveal to them who he was; yet, he spoke harshly enough that they revered him.  The time finally came where he would reveal himself to them and this was his response.  Genesis 45: "3 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. 4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.

5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.

6 For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.

7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

8 So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt." and Genesis 50: "19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?

20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them."

Within Joseph’s life God displayed all of His attributes of beauty that we already listed.  Also, He had step by step, glory by glory had guided Joseph’s life to that point where he was able to understand that God had orchestrated every detail and that even what his brother’s had meant for evil, God was using for good.  That is an understanding that goes beyond human understanding.  I use to look at Joseph’s life and say, "Wow, I wish I were a Joseph who seemed to always get it right."  Yet, if we really look, I am certain there were moments in the depth of his heart that Joseph had felt anger, loneliness, sorrow, confusion as we all do at times.  It had been a step by step process that ultimately enlightened Joseph’s heart to who God was and the fact that every detail had been lead by God.  When we know that, it is easy to forgive even those who would attempt to do us harm.  Nothing happens in the life of a believer but that God is working out His plan for our good.  So why have I ever fretted or even at moments do still when evil would press in around me?  Why would I ever fear or doubt what God is doing?  Just this week God had asked I do something which felt like I was jumping off the bridge with nothing to catch me; yet, I remembered it is God who is catching me.  That simple act of blind faith changed everything and allowed me to see the Mighty Hand of God at work in every aspect of my life.  Suddenly, I understood with greater depth, Joseph and the transforming work God had done in the heart of Joseph–step by step, glory by glory. 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1Lu5udXEZI

Yesterday, I began to tell you about the some of the attributes of God’s beauty.  We began with the beauty of His creation, the beauty of His Righteousness, and the beauty of His justice.  So let us look at a few more of those attributes. 

Beauty of His Power—1 Chronicles 29: "11 Thine, O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.12 Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all."  God is on His throne and He reigns supreme over the just and the unjust. Matthew 5: "45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."  He has power over every aspect of nature and all of mankind.  Luke 8: "23 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him."  Stop and think about the fact that God spoke this very world into being. 

Beauty of His Love–God’s love is so great that it is unfathomable.  The love of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is so great Father for Son, Son for Father, Holy Spirit for the Father, the Son for the Holy Spirit and so forth.  This love is beyond measure and pours forth like a spring overflowing with love.  God created man so that the abundance of that overflowing love might be showered upon us.  Yet, man from the very first, chose the creation rather than the creator to adore–thinking himself of greater importance than God who wanted to love him.  Still, God did not just walk away; indeed, He provided the way for man’s relationship with Him to be restored.  Christ paid the price for man’s rebellion upon the cross.  On His way to Gethsemane, Christ prayed as recorded in John 17–"23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world."   What greater love can be displayed than this? 

Beauty of His Grace  Isaiah 43: "25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins."  2 Corinthians 5: "20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."  John 3: "16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."  Psalm 103: "11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us."  His grace still amazes me.  Romans 5: "7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him."

Beauty of His Joy—-Did you know that God is a joyous God.  He is full of Joy and desires that His children are joyous. Jude 1: "24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen."  Zephaniah 3: "17 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing."  I can imagine God with all His might and power, reaching down because of His love for me–cradling me in His arms while singing to me a song of joy.  I am certain those mornings when at two am I awaken with a song playing in the recesses of my mind and I feel as though I am being held gently while all alone in my bed–that is God’s presence.  Then, with hope and joy in my heart, I go back to sleep.

Beauty of His Wisdom:  Daniel 2: "19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:

21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.23 I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee:"

1 Corinthians 1: "19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men."

God is wise and we can trust Him with our lives; knowing that He has the perfect plan of love, even when we don’t understand.

James 1: "5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

When we next meet, I want to demonstrate how these attributes all fit together and are revealed in the life of man.  Particularly I want to tell you about Joseph’s life and how God orchestrated every minute detail so that He might bring the perfect plan into fruition.  Perhaps, I am thinking so much of Joseph’s story; because I just witnessed in my life the same where God moved heaven and earth to ascertain that I might hear His voice and follow.  I am still uncertain of the details of where or what we are doing; but, I trust Him and rejoice each day as I watch Him unfold my future one moment at a time.  That is exciting. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzOgA2RV6Hs