Required reading
Mystery of Providence by John Flavel (available from Amazon or free on the internet,
here for example)
- Chapter 11 and Chapter 12 commenced (Section: 'How may a Christian discover...').
My notes and thoughts
Chapter 11 is a short chapter that provides some practical implications for the saints from providence. The only one that grabbed me was 'If God performs all things for you, see how obliged you are to perform all duties and services for God.'
Chapter 12 concerns practical problems in connection with providence and today's reading addresses one problem: 'How may a Christian discover the will of God and his own duty under dark and doubtful providences.'
In the 'providence of God', I've been preparing a sermon for Sunday on the third petition in the Lord's prayer 'Your will be done' and so have been reading books on guidance and God's will all day. I think Flavel's advice here is wise. 'The safest way therefore to make use of providences in such cases is to consider them as they follow the commands or promises of the Word and not singly and separately in themselves....No smiles or success of Providence may encourage us to proceed; and on the other side, no frowns or discouragements of Providence should discourage us in the way of our duty, however many we should encounter therein.'
How often people seek guidance from the circumstances around them and do not seek guidance from God's word when it often has very particular advice on the subject. The most common one that jumps to mind is the Christian wanting to marry a non-Christian. All kinds of excuses (e.g. God has put this person in my life, I have such strong feelings for them) are given to get around the fact that God's word says it is sinful and therefore not God's will for them.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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