WiW: God’s Rights

Human rights are a huge deal for citizens of the United States of America. We’re all about upholding human rights. And so we should be. We should be concerned about preserving others’ rights.

At the same time, I’ve oft been convicted that I am not to seek my own rights.

I don’t have rights. I ceded them when I became a follower of Christ. I can’t expect to be dealt with fairly, to be given my due. When I became a follower of Christ, I was promised persecution, hatred from the world. When I became a follower of Christ, I was called to lay down my life for my brothers and for the world.

When I became a follower of Christ, I took up my cross. I no longer have any rights. I am a convicted man.

So I’ve thought quite a bit about my rights or lack thereof–but this week, I read something that made me think about rights from a new perspective.

What about God’s rights?

“So make up your mind that God is an infinite Sovereign and has a right to do as He pleases with His own, and that He may not explain to you a thousand things which may puzzle your reason in His dealings with you.”
~George D. Watson, quoted by Tim Challies

I struggle with where God has me, with what He’s calling me to. I’m frustrated that His plans for me don’t align with my plans for me.

But you know? God has the right to do whatever He wants with me.

And, of course, I have the promise that even if I don’t understand–even if I never know–the reasons He has in the things He does, the purposes are good nonetheless.

But, as I was reminded this week, reading Jeremiah 29, those good purposes don’t necessarily look they way I’d have planned them.

Have you ever noticed that the nice feel good Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you…thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” falls right in the midst of God’s telling Israel that they WOULDN’T be delivered from the present Babylonian affliction?

Nope. God says, “You’re not gonna be saved. You’re gonna be carried away. What’s more, you’re gonna be in Babylon for a long time.”

“Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished. And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace.”
~Jeremiah 29:5-7

So settle in, Rebekah. Make yourself a home in Columbus, Nebraska. Seek the peace of that city. Don’t just wait it out in the place I’ve appointed for you–choose to thrive in the place I’ve planted for you.

“For thus says the LORD: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.”
~Jeremiah 29:10-14

And that’s where I have to realize. God has the right to do whatever He wants with me. But He also has the right to do whatever He’s promised in His own timing.

God promised them deliverance. It took 70 years. He called them to be content and productive in the interim.

Maybe God will see fit to fulfill some of my dreams. Maybe it’ll take a life time. He calls me to be content and productive in the interim.

He has the right to do so.

Collect more quotes from throughout the week with Barbara H’s meme “The Week in Words”.