“Show Me Your Glory” by Steve Lawson
Most leaders do not want to be called a micro-manager. An employee might say to a boss, “Don’t sweat the details.” Many strategies focus on the big picture. All of these statements have some validity and, at times, can help one’s sanity. However, if you order a hamburger with only ketchup and end up with one loaded with spicy mustard and lots of onions, the details matter.
Steve Lawson comforts us with the fact that God is meticulous. I had never thought of God with that word, though I certainly agree with Steve as he writes, “God controls not only the big picture of world events, but also its most minute details. He orchestrates not only the macro, but the micro. God determines the day of everyone’s birth and sets the number of their days until their death…No one will live one hour, minutes, or second beyond the time God has appointed for them.” Job 14:5 teaches this truth, “Since his days are determined, the number of his months is with You; and his limits You have set so that he cannot pass.”
We have seen in sermons from Romans 8 and 9 God remains sovereign in all things. Solomon wrote in Proverbs 16:9, “The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” and then in v33, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.” Simply put, “The overarching control by God is settled and sure, down to the smallest details of life. Even the most seemingly miniscule occurrences are under His overruling control…Though man must make his preparation, the outcome inevitably belongs to God.”
What incredible comfort this gives to God’s people. Everything that happens in this world occurs with a purpose. R. C. Sproul said often, “There is no maverick molecule if God is sovereign. If he cannot control the tiniest bits of the universe, then we cannot trust Him to keep His word.” The choice become chaos in all things or comfort because God rules over all things – big and small.
Steve closes this section by pointing to Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 10:29-30, “Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” Therefore, “The Lord asserts that even the smallest hair particles are under the control of God. The smallest occurrences in a person’s life are but small threads woven by God into the larger tapestry of His pre-determined plan…Nothing lies outside the control of God for the good of His people” per Romans 8:28.
May we rejoice and takes comfort in our meticulous God! Pastor Gillikin