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February 15
THIS IS NO ACCIDENT
by Ray Prinzing
"Even though at present you are temporarily harassed by all
kinds of trials and temptations. This is no accident - it
happens to prove your faith, which is infinitely more valuable than
gold, and gold, as you know, even though it is ultimately
perishable, must be purified by fire. This proving of your
faith is planned to result in praise and honour and glory in the day
when Jesus Christ reveals Himself." (1 Peter 1:6-7, Phillips).
This is no accident, it
is a HAPPENING that is PLANNED to prove your faith! The
responsibility is God's, according to His plan and purpose being
wrought out in us, that we might be found to His praise. Let
us not be so quick to look for secondary causes, and forget that God
is working out all things after the counsel of His own will.
Nor did He just allow it, nay. HE PLANNED IT. We need to
know wherein we stand, and in Whom we believe, else we shall not be
able to stand in the "evil day." But knowing that whatever
shall touch our lives in the days, months, years to come, is in the
purpose of God, under His sovereign control, and that IT IS NO
ACCIDENT,
then we can rest in His power an sufficiency to bring us through
victoriously. All our circumstances are not just casually
permitted, they are planned in His love.
No wonder it is written,
"neither give place to the devil." (Ephesians 4:27).
You cannot be GOD-CONSCIOUS and devil conscious at the same time.
Since God is working in His elect to bring them to that place where
"the prince of this world cometh and hath nothing in me,"
(John 14:30), it is obvious that all the "place" in our
minds where we have given room to the negative must be purged, and
Christ totally enthroned, so that He alone fills our being with His
consciousness.
Predetermined counsel working.
'Tis the Father's will for thee,
And no accident can happen,
What He planned is what you see.
From our God all things receiving,
Single eye, in faith to stand,
Strengthened with the blest assurance
None can pluck us from His hand.
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