Making Straight the Crooked
God's sovereignty in our lives is a platform for the display of His almighty grace and power, and to teach us to trust in Him.
Charles E. Cowman preaches about the mysterious ways of God, highlighting how God often leads His children into difficult situations that seem impossible to escape from, but are perfectly orchestrated by Him for the display of His grace and power. Despite the perplexity and seriousness of the circumstances, God's ultimate deliverance will not only be a lesson that will never be forgotten, but also a cause for eternal gratitude and praise.
Text
"Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked" (Eccles. 7:13).
Often God seems to place His children in positions of profound difficulty, leading them into a wedge from which there is no escape; contriving a situation which no human judgment would have permitted, had it been previously consulted. The very cloud conducts them thither. You may be thus involved at this very hour.
It does seem perplexing and very serious to the last degree, but it is perfectly right. The issue will more than justify Him who has brought you hither. It is a platform for the display of His almighty grace and power.
He will not only deliver you; but in doing so, He will give you a lesson that you will never forget, and to which, in many a psalm and song, in after days, you will revert. You will never be able to thank God enough for having done just as He has. --Selected
"We may wait till He explains,
Because we know that Jesus reigns."
It puzzles me; but, Lord, Thou understandest,
And wilt one day explain this crooked thing.
Meanwhile, I know that it has worked out Thy best--
Its very crookedness taught me to cling.
Thou hast fenced up my ways, made my paths crooked,
To keep my wand'ring eyes fixed on Thee;
To make me what I was not, humble, patient;
To draw my heart from earthly love to Thee.
So I will thank and praise Thee for this puzzle,
And trust where I cannot understand.
Rejoicing Thou dost hold me worth such testing,
I cling the closer to Thy guiding hand.
--F.E.M.I.
Sermon Outline
- God's Sovereignty in Difficulty
- God's Purpose in Crooked Paths
- Trust in God's Plan
- We may not understand, but God does
- We can trust in His goodness and sovereignty
Key Quotes
“Because we know that Jesus reigns.” — Charles E. Cowman
“It puzzles me; but, Lord, Thou understandest, And wilt one day explain this crooked thing.” — Charles E. Cowman
“Thou hast fenced up my ways, made my paths crooked, To keep my wand'ring eyes fixed on Thee;” — Charles E. Cowman
Application Points
- We can trust in God's goodness and sovereignty, even when we don't understand what He's doing.
- We should rejoice that God holds us worth such testing, and cling the closer to His guiding hand.
- We can thank God for difficult times by trusting in His goodness and sovereignty.