And You Thought
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord." (Isaiah 55:8)
One glorious demonstration of this verse occurred with Peter in Luke 5. It is written that Jesus got into one of their boats and requested him to draw away from shore, then Jesus continued to teach the crowd of people on the shore. When He stopped speaking, He asked Peter to go to the deep water and lower their nets for a haul.
Even though Peter was not yet a disciple, he was obedient to Jesus. He allowed Him to get into the boat, he drew away from the shore, then despite his objection - Peter lowered their nets... and you know from the account and illustration above what happened next.
Well beyond what he received in the literally overwhelming blessing of fish, that miracle changed Peter forever and also us who believe in Christ to this day, as he was the leader of the early church and an author in the New Testament.
And Peter thought he was just casting his net to oblige the request of Jesus
But God's thoughts were higher
In 1 Kings 17, the widow who encountered Elijah and despite being down to the last morsel for her and her son, at his request made a small portion for him. Then the Lord supernaturally multiplied their provisions until rain came to their land, and later restored life to her son who had stopped breathing.
And she thought she was just being kind to Elijah
But God's thoughts were higher
I will share two examples in my own life. At the age of 21, I felt led to give to the church offering, money I had for an oil change. Within the next week I received a job offer I sought. One for a better position, that paid much more, had better benefits and was closer to home. I gave a two-week notice to my current employer, which resulted in their terminating me that day because I was going to a competitor, but with all my future pay.
I decided to start one week earlier at the new place (and thus got two paychecks that week) and was invited to the company picnic that weekend. There, my parents won a drawing for luggage and I won the grand prize of a stereo system - and I had not even started working there yet! I stayed there more than 25 years and was blessed beyond my dreams.
And I thought I was just giving into the offering
But God's thoughts were higher
In 1998, I came across a community education class being offered titled "Debt-Free & Prosperous Living", thought it would be good to attend and so my wife Karen and I did. The materials and instruction were great, but what happened spiritually that night was God showing me the connection between these concepts and what is written in His Word regarding finances, and that it was His will do this. Because of that we were determined to follow through, and we became debt-free.
When our pastor learned of what happened he said "you have to teach us this", so we learned the materials and acquired textbooks, studied the verses that related to finances and giving and taught them to our congregation. Then he said "you should go to other churches also", so we sent letters out and God opened doors to dozens of churches where we taught hundreds and hundreds of people. Most importantly we received word back of households paying off credit cards, cars, boats and even houses, and how blessed they felt to see God moving. And to this day, sharing in this post what God leads me to convey that you are reading now.
And I thought we were just attending a community education class
But God's thoughts were higher
When considering your occupation, be encouraged that from God's perspective there is much more going on than we can realize... you are not just providing for your family. There are eternal purposes at work, ones that extend beyond the obvious of when you may share your faith, listen to someone's needs showing that you care, or pray with them.
In our daily carrying out of integrity, giving an honest effort, going the extra mile, being a generous teammate to our coworkers and staying positive through challenges, that level of truth they see performed from you daily will translate to there being a corresponding level of truth when you speak of spiritual things.
And you thought (like Peter) you were just going to work
But God's thoughts were higher
Lastly, be encouraged to rely on the One who made these things happen beyond what was being thought of at the time:
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight". (Proverbs 3:5-6)
God Bless you and may He show Himself greatly to you,
Paul
