+DEV+ Pt 3. Soul Care: God's Responsibility: Provision

Date: December 17, 2014 11:38 PM

Topic: +DEV+  Pt 3. Soul Care: God's Responsibility:  Provision

Pt 3. Soul Care: 

GOD'S RESPONSIBILITY:  PROVISION

. . . The primary responsibility for soul care rests with God.

        As Father, he is responsible for molding his children's development.

        As Lord, he is responsible for instilling in his people obedience.

        As Shepherd, he is responsible for ensuring his sheep's safety.

        As Guide, he is responsible for his students' instruction.

        As Doctor, he is responsible for prescribing for his patients' spiritual health.

God has the major part in soul care, not only because of his one-on-one relationship to each of us, but also because only he can do the fundamental inner things that need to be done to care for our souls.

God alone can make us godly, mainly because God alone can give us his agape love - and we only love him and others because he first loved us.

Scripture teaches that God has taken upon himself certain responsibilities.  Paul says,

"For I am confident of this very thing,

that He who began a good work in you

will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus!"

(Philippians 1:6).

Jude echoes with:

"Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,

and to make you stand in the presence

of His glory blameless with great joy."

(Jude 24).

Then the writer of Hebrews tells us how God is going to fulfill his responsibility for our soul care:

"I will put my laws into their minds,

and I will write them upon their hearts.

And I will be their God,

and they shall be my people.

And they shall not teach everyone his fellow citizen,

and everyone his brother,

saying,

"know the Lord,"

for all shall know me,

from the least to the greatest of them."

(Heb 8:10b - 12a).

Most New Testament verbs about "change" are in the passive voice.  This means we do not change ourselves strictly by our own initiative; we are changed, which indicates that God will do his part.  God's faithfulness is an indelible part of his character.  He can be fully counted on to do all he has promised to do - perfectly and on time.

I'm sure you are asking, "If this is true, how come I am not any further along than I am?"  The answer is that you, too, have a responsibility in the care of your soul.  You can either release God to do his part or you can prevent God from doing so.  He will not do what he wants to do (and can do) without your cooperation.

If God has the  major responsibility for your soul care, you must give him time to do it.  Time spent with God is measured by its quality, not by the clock.  And it is quite possible to spend "quality time" in Bible study and never get close to God.  The Pharisees did this, but Jesus said:

"You search the Scriptures,

because you think that in them you have eternal life;

and it is these that bear witness of Me;

and you are unwilling to come to Me,

that you may have life."

(John 5:39-40).

Jesus was referring to quality time with God when he said,

". . .when you pray,

enter into your inner room,

and when you have shut your door,

pray to your Father who is in secret,

and your Father. . . will repay you."

(Matthew 6:6).

~~~

From the book: 

'Soul Care'

By Peter Lord

Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.

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