Exercise caution when claiming God’s will
By Michael J. Brooks
Pastor, Siluria Baptist Church
Someone took me to task for what I thought was a harmless quip. In a tongue-in-cheek article about how we Baptists “steal” pastors from one another, I remarked that though it’s a flawed system, God seems to help us through it most of the time.
“God helps us all the time!” someone responded.
Yes, I understand, but I know also that we frequently sidestep the will of God and mess things up.
A good example of this was a church in one of the Carolinas. A friend found the story and sent it to me years ago.
A noted pastor from Texas announced with great fanfare it was God’s will for him to move from his flourishing church to a new ministry on the East Coast. He said he had no doubts God was leading him to a new and even more flourishing ministry.
In less than two weeks he announced it was God’s will that he return to his former church. The story didn’t explain any precipitating causes nor what negotiations occurred with the former church that would bring about his return.
My friend who sent me this story, a great mentor, was exhorting me to exercise caution in labeling everything God’s will. In this case it’s alleged God changed his mind!
I know a similar story. A pastor I knew well announced his move to Louisville to attend seminary believing it was God’s will. He remained one week before convincing his former church to take him back as their pastor.
The prophet Jeremiah spoke God’s displeasure with false prophets who say “he says” when the Lord didn’t speak (Jer. 23:31). We need to seek His will to be sure, but it’s often best to say we believe a matter to be the Lord’s will if we’re still working our way through it. And it’s helpful to ask for the insights of others as we test our thoughts (1 Cor. 14:29).
Some Christians believe in the reform doctrine that everything which happens to us is due to the active and deliberate plan of God. Whereas I respect their belief, I’m of the Arminian mindset, believing God gives us freedom to choose, and often we make some really bad choices.
We see people all the time using tobacco, spurning their marriage vows, texting and driving, and being reckless in other ways. When these people hurt themselves or others, I really don’t believe it is God’s will. It’s His will that we exercise better judgment. God helps us if we let Him.
Fortunately, He’s a merciful God who can mend the bad choices we make.
EDITOR’S NOTE — From Reflections, a weekly devotional column written by Michael J. Brooks, pastor of Siluria Baptist Church in Alabaster, Ala., www.siluriabaptist.com.
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The truth about alcohol
Alcohol is not just any commodity, and we shouldn’t treat it like buying bread, milk or eggs. Alcohol is a mind-altering, addictive drug. It kills more people each year — 88,000, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — than all illicit drugs combined, including opioids.
Alcohol is a factor in a majority of violent crimes, including rape and murder. About half the suicides in our country are linked to alcohol.
I am especially alarmed by the great harm alcohol inflicts on families. Alcohol is a major cause of domestic violence, child neglect, unwanted pregnancies and divorce.
Some special interest groups — big-box retailers and liquor distributors — continue to push to privatize liquor sales in Alabama by closing state-operated liquor stores and handing over the sale of all liquor in the state to private businesses.
Who benefits from privatization? Those who sell liquor, particularly corporate-owned superstores and national chain retailers that see liquor as a way to further increase their profits — at YOUR expense.
It’s time to reject the notion that we can make it easier to sell liquor without all of us paying a higher cost.
—Joe Godfrey
EDITOR’S NOTE: Joe Godfrey serves as executive director of Alabama Citizens Action Program.
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My Jesus Story
Trials in life make us stronger. God sustains us. All of my grown life I have had health issues. Through it all God was with me.
Even after having cancer in each of my kidneys, a rare form of stomach cancer, numerous other health issues, my dad murdered when I was 16 and losing my husband while he was on military active duty, I can honestly say my God is so good to me.
Every day is a blessing from God.
“I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Ps. 34:1).
I find myself praising His holy name daily. God always has a plan for our lives. He never makes mistakes.
I am thanking God for the gift of teaching Sunday School for the past 47 years. I would love to teach until God calls me home.
Sherra Claunch
Golden Springs Baptist Church, Anniston, Alabama
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We need to cultivate an ethic of biblical literacy.
Alex McFarland
Evangelist and apologist
If kids can, right now, understand the participatory nature of being in the body of Christ, then they will begin to own their own faith by God’s grace.
Michael Kelley
Director of Groups Ministry, LifeWay Christian Resources
Giving the unborn a chance to live by guiding the mother into a relationship with Christ often results in the mother’s salvation and also saves the precious life of the child.
Clara Molina
Southern Baptist Hispanic Leaders Council
God has called us to do more and to be more at all ages and stages of life for His Glory.
Larry Hyche
Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions Office of Global Missions
God wants you to measure your life not by comparing it to someone else’s, but by constantly looking to Jesus as our example.
Pastor Jay Dennis
www.wingmannation.com
It’s what the gospel is about. It’s loving people and showing compassion. You do that out here. You don’t do that between four walls.
Cecil Harris, Chaplain
Tuskegee-Lee Baptist Association disaster relief team
In order to share the gospel effectively, we must be willing to let go of our assumptions and to sensitively ask lots of questions in order to examine the culture deeply. We have to forget what feels comfortable and natural in our own culture and embrace what works in the culture we’re serving in.
Melanie Clinton
“Salvation Bracelets in Africa? No, Thanks.” IMB.org
Religion: “I messed up. My dad is going to kill me.”
Gospel: “I messed up. I need to call my Dad.”
Tennessee Baptist Mission Board
Facebook post
10 Friends Every Pastor Needs in His Church
- A friend who is growing continually in the faith.
- A friend who puts others first.
- A friend who seeks the lost.
- A friend who walks by faith and not by sight.
- A friend who prays rather than faints in difficulty.
- A friend who makes peace rather than conflict.
- A friend who’s self image is in Christ not in power or position.
- A friend who is concerned about passing the baton to the next generation.
- A friend who cares for and encourages the pastor’s family.
- A friend who loves the church and gives sacrificially to it.
Chris Crain, executive director
Birmingham Metro Baptist Association
Before we start hungering and thirsting for something, let’s make sure that we know what it is we desire, and that we are happy with the right things.
Matthew-Louis Hall
Geaux Therefore blog, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
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From the Twitterverse
@kristenpadilla
To all the women who are faithfully serving the Lord, who don’t have a big platform, who often feel overlooked, unheard or alone, God sees you and your work, hears you and is with you. Continue in faithfulness and steadfastness working as unto the Lord and resting in his love.
@alabamawmu
What an encouraging morning and privilege to pray for North American Missions. Thankful for the reminder from Ken Weathersby that we may face valleys but we’re in the hand of God. Expectant for what God will do through #AAEO19 — @NationalWMU — at WMU
@pastorjaycbc
When a person comes to know Jesus, he will know change. If there is no change, there is likely no Jesus.
@Jeff_Noblit
Nothing wrong with new songs in the church provided they are sound. But it’s a shame that this generation will not know so many of the great standards of the Faith. Our young people love the old hymns because they are learning to love the Truth they contain.
@timlbcchelsea
We do not meet Jesus halfway and trust Him to do the rest. Jesus does it ALL! He is the Savior — we are the saved! Thank you Jesus!
@Blackwell_Kevin
“The decision to grow always involves a choice between risk and comfort. This means that to be a follower of Jesus you must renounce comfort as the ultimate value of your life.” @johnortberg
@DL_Staples
When you think of all the OT laws and sacrifices remember the “how much more” of the NT: “…how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” Hebrews 9:14
@paulwasher
The fact that Paul admonishes the professing Christians in Corinth to examine themselves (2 Cor. 13:5) and to look for evidence of conversion proves that God’s work of salvation in the believer will not only result in justification but also in real and observable sanctification.
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