Your best is good enough most of the time but God’s best is better than enough ALL the time, past – present – future…into infinity and beyond.
There are times when there is no human best to be done, when the Divine best must be left to work, and God expects those of us who know Him to be confident in His ability and power. We have to learn what these fishermen learned, that the Carpenter of Nazareth knew better than they did how to manage the boat.
Is Jesus Christ a Carpenter, or is He God to me? If He is only man, why let Him take the tiller of the boat?
Why pray to Him?
But if He be God, then be heroic enough to go to the breaking-point and not break in your confidence in Him.
Oswald Chambers, Joy – Strength in the Lord
My Pondering
Jesus was more than a carpenter that created the incredible catch of fish that more than abundantly filled His disciples nets.
Jesus was more than a carpenter when He multiplied the boys lunch of fish and bread to feed the thousands with plenty of leftovers after everyone had their fill.
Jesus was more than a carpenter when He quelled the storm on the sea of Galilee.
Jesus is more than enough.
In John 10, He stated:
Jesus the Good Shepherd
Jesus, John 10
(Psalm 23:1–6; Ezekiel 34:11–24)
1“Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2But the one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen for his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will flee from him because they do not recognize his voice.”
6Jesus spoke to them using this illustration, but they did not understand what He was telling them.
7So He said to them again, “Truly, truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who came before Mea were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.
I have come that they may have life,
and have it in all its fullness.
11I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock. 13The man runs away because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep.
14I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me, 15just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep. 16I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.
17The reason the Father loves Me is that I lay down My life in order to take it up again. 18No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.”
Psalm 23 is akin to this passage as David was inspired to write:
1The LORD is my shepherd;
David, Psalm 23
I shall not want.
2He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
3He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
for the sake of His name.
4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,
for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6Surely goodness and mercy will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
I submit this is mostly a relational spiritual context but it is also a physical present reality one. God operations are multi-dimensional.
Notice the He, He, He, He’s then the You, You, You, You’s….it’s about the Good Shepherd doing the best stuff.
My Pondering summary of Psalm 23:
v1. As I live for God and love, I know that God loves me. He will provide what I need. This I know, for the Bible tells me so. I shall plant and water, cooperate with others and trust God for the increase.
v2. As I follow God’s ways, He will supernaturally take me to fertile ground, the higher ground. He gives me rest and renewal as I cast my burdens aside and abide in His Spirit.
v3. Yes, He is my peace and joy. Daily, my mind is renewed (Romans 12:1-2). He guides me. I follow. It is for His glory and His great name that the best happens and shall be sustained.
v4. There have been, are and shall be dark, difficult and challenging events in life. It’s not all down hill and sunny. However, God does work even the apparent bad for good for those of us who seek Him and His good purposes (Romans 8:28). I don’t know everything but I know God and He knows everything.
v5. God is my Providential Provision and He more than delivers what is best. We do our little part and He does the great part. Like Joseph’s brothers meant for evil, God used for good as only He can. He is more than plenty and so are His blessings.
v6. As long as I love and live for God, He will ensure general goodness is with me and when I mess up, His mercy is more than enough. To infinity and beyond we go…thanks to Jesus my Lord, by the Spirit, all made possible by Father God.
Conclusion
God’s best is better than our best any-day and twice on Sunday. History and Scripture are full of these examples. Yet, we need to be cognizant that our purpose be connected to His ultimate purpose. That our best be about being in sync with His best. That our timing is subject to His timing. That our wins are His wins. That to be like Jesus is the goal and to be like Jesus is the reward. JC is the alpha and the omega.
B – lessing (Goodness from God which are temporal or spiritual, bodily or mental; but in every thing they really convey the good and effectiveness which they import and then return back to God as an act of thanks-giving for his mercies
E – verything (all for His glory)
S – upernaturally (more than a carpenter )
T – imely (in His space, time and energy)
And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.
Romans 8:28 AMP
Won’t you give your best to receive His?