The Works of God (5)
By T. M. Moore|Published Date: April 06, 2012
“He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and merciful. He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever. He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations.”
Psalm 111:4-6
How should those who have come to the wisdom of God through our Lord Jesus Christ respond to the splendid, majestic, and faithful works of the Lord?
When one becomes a believer in Jesus Christ, whole new vistas of understanding open up, as the Spirit of God begins to teach us to see and live according to the teaching of God’s Word, and to respond, as our text indicates, appropriately to all the works of God.
They who have entered into God’s work of redemption must labor to remember the works of the Lord – all His works, not just that which Jesus has accomplished for our salvation. Those who have come to know Jesus Christ, and who are beginning to realize the vast scope of the works of God, will want to become more mindful of the creation, in all its variegated splendor and majesty. They will want to study and ponder the faithful works of God in providence as, by His steadfast love, He continues to uphold the cosmos and everything in it by His Word of power.
The redeemed must not be like the lost, failing to observe, give thanks for, and redeem the creation of God. Rather, we must work hard to become more mindful of all His works and to teach the generations to come to remember the works of the Lord as well (Ps. 78:1-8). Our first responsibility in remembering the works of the Lord is to begin to become better acquainted with them.
Today, most children of believers receive all their instruction about the world – geography, science, meteorology, physics, and the like – at the hands of instructors who do not see in these sciences means of exploring the works of God in greater detail. In the schools of the unbelieving world the creation is merely “nature” and the providence of God reduces to “laws” of physics. God has nothing to do with any of this.
Is it any wonder, therefore, that so many children of the Church give up their faith when they head off to college? Having spent twelve years in classrooms where the relevance of God is ignored or, worse, denied, they are only following out the logical implications of the education we have allowed them to receive.
In the Church we must find ways of redressing this gross injustice and of helping our children to be mindful of all the works of the Lord in creation and providence.
Further, we respond to God’s works with thanksgiving – throughout the day, at all times, for everything He provides, and not just the food we eat (Phil. 4:6, 7; 1 Thess. 5:18). The work of God in creation, providence, and redemption offers abundant cues and summons to lift our hearts to Him with thanks and praise.
Finally, the grace, power, and Truth of God observable in all His works must impel the people of God to mission (Ps. 105:1-5). All the works of God are His servants (Ps. 119:89-91), put at the disposal of God’s covenant people so that they, reconciling those works back to God, might engage them all in reaching the world for Jesus Christ. As we remember and give thanks for the works of God in creation, providence, and redemption, we must employ His works in order to engage His work of making all the nations disciples.
Become acquainted with God’s works. Respond often with thanksgiving. Let God’s work impel you to mission. What is your plan, following these headings, for responding to the works of God? Share it with some Christian friends.
This week’s series, The Works of God, is available in a free downloadable format, suitable for group study.
For more insight to this topic, order the book, The Sovereignty of God, by Arthur Pink, from our online store. Or read the article, “Things Hidden Since the Beginning of the World: The Shape of Divine Providence & Human History,” by James Hitchcock.
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture references are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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