In His Own Time

In His Own Time

When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judæa again.…

John 11: 6 & 7

God has His Own agenda and follows His Own schedule. In the scene before us, we see that very clearly. Christ was ministering, ‘beyond the Jordan.’ While He was there, He received word that, ‘he whom You love is sick.’ We would expect that Christ would respond immediately. He did not. In fact, ‘He stayed two more days in the place where He was.’ This supports the idea that God has His Own agenda and follows His Own schedule. The end result of Christ tarrying ‘beyond Jordan,’ would be that Lazarus would be dead and buried by the time He arrived. None of this would fall outside of the Plan and Purpose of God. It would fit entirely into the agenda and schedule of which we have been speaking. We, as mere humans, have difficulty coming to terms with these truths. We have opinions about how God should do things. Our agenda and His are rarely coincidental. It is often very hard for us to come peaceably to this conclusion. Because we think we see things so clearly, and have such a good grasp on what God should do, we tend to be uncomfortable, or anxious, or at variance with what He is doing. Today, let us look at the whole of this story, from the beginning to the end, and from it derive the lesson that Christ comes to us in His Own time, to complete His agenda, for His Glory, and for our ultimate good.

Our Holy and Wise God,
we rejoice that You do all things well.
We praise You that Your timing is perfect,
and that You accomplish all things in Your Own Time
and after the counsel of Your Own Will.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush Burning