Our Daily Bread April 24
Divinely Aligned / By:Evan Morgan Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
Romans 11:33
Today's Scripture & Insight:
Romans 11:33–36 (NIV):
33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” 35 “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” 36 For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.
I was deeply troubled and woke in the night to pace the floor and pray. Frankly, my attitude was not one of prayerful submission to God, but one of questioning and anger. Finding no release, I sat and stared out a large window at the night sky. I was unexpectedly drawn to focus on Orion’s Belt—those three perfectly arranged stars often visible on clear nights. I knew just enough about astronomy to understand that those three stars were hundreds of light years apart.
I realized the closer I could be to those stars, the less they would appear to be aligned. Yet from my distant perspective, they looked carefully configured in the heavens. At that moment, I realized I was too close to my life to see what God sees. In His big picture, everything is in perfect alignment.
The apostle Paul, as he completes a summary of the ultimate purposes of God, breaks into a hymn of praise (Romans 11:33–36). His words lift our gaze to our sovereign God, whose ways are beyond our limited ability to understand or trace (v. 33). Yet the One who holds all things together in the heavens and on earth is intimately and lovingly involved with every detail of our lives (Matthew 6:25–34; Colossians 1:16).
Even when things seem confusing, God’s divine plans are unfolding for our good and for God’s honor and glory.
Today’s Hynms:
How Great Thou Art
I Know Who Holds Tommorow
Scripture to Respond:
Isaiah 40:15-18 New International Version (NIV)
15 Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket;they are regarded as dust on the scales;he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.16 Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires,nor its animals enough for burnt offerings.17 Before him all the nations are as nothing;they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing.18 With whom, then, will you compare God? To what image will you liken him?
Isaiah 55:8-9 New International Version (NIV)
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Reflection:
When you find yourself in a situation apparently beyond control or extremely difficult, do you believe the almighty God is still in control? What are some of the questions that you long for answers from God?
How does the belief that our life is part of God’s great plan help you?
Prayer:
Loving Father, please remind me that the plan You set for me is far beyond my comprehension. Help me to fully trust You.
Wong Wai Tung (Chief executive officer of The Great Wall Education Foundation) & Sam Chow (Administrative officer of The Great Wall Education Foundation) Translated by Esther Leung
