TEXT:
‘All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one fully knows and accurately understands the Son except the Father; and no one fully knows and accurately understands the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son [deliberately] wills to reveal Him’ (Matthew 11:27 AMP).
One of my favourite Bible verses, that often encouraged me to keep going during difficult time is, ‘All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose’ (Romans 8:28).
Other verses with “All things” in them are equally inspiring:
‘With men this is impossible but with God all things are possible’ (Matthew 19:26)
‘If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes’ (Mark 9:23)
As I studied the Bible I noticed that “All things” was a phrase that the Apostle Paul frequently used, and in Today’s Teaching we will consider several taken from the Pastoral Epistles – 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus, and these fall into two categories, which are, “What God does” and “What we need to do”.
1. What God Does
- Gives life to all things – ‘I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things’ (1 Timothy 6:13)
God is not only the Creator but the Sustainer. ‘The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word’ (Hebrews 1:3 NIV). Many can start something but not have the power or resources to finish it. Not so Jesus, ‘I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end’ (Revelation 1:8). ‘He who has begun a good work in you will complete it’ (Philippians 1:6).
‘For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him’ (Colossians 1:16 NIV).
‘For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen’ (Romans 11:36).
It’s not enough just to thank God for the air that we breathe, what about thanking Him for the lungs that breathe the air in, and the blood that circulates the oxygen? God created a perfect world and man to fit perfectly into that world.
Jesus created this world, sustains it, and will ultimately, ‘Reconcile all things to Himself’ (Colossians 1:20). The Prince of Peace will reign in peace, having put down all rebellion. Now that is something to really look forward to!
- Gives us richly all things to enjoy – ‘Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy’ (1 Timothy 6:17)
Life is to be enjoyed in spite of the many things that sadden us. Evil is never far away, although God never wanted us to experience it in the first place.1 Walk along the High Street of any town and see how many sad faces there are. They may be wearing a mask because of Covid but look at their eyes, and you will see fear and despair.
Too many have forgotten to count their blessings. God is a giving God, He’s not in the withholding business. ‘He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?’ (Romans 8:32).
If the free gift of His Son Jesus is the ultimate gift, it’s impossible for God to want to withhold from us the lesser gifts. It’s not enough to find verses in the Bible that give us hope, we need to hear God speak to us, for that will turn hope into faith when we believe His Word!
- Gives Understanding – ‘Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things’ (2 Timothy 2:7)
Proverbs challenges us, ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding’ (Proverbs 3:5 NLT). ‘Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding’ (Proverbs 4:7)
Jesus said the role of the Holy Spirit would be to teach us all things and bring all things to our remembrance. ‘But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you’ (John 14:26).
It’s impossible for our carnal, finite minds to understand the infinite God. Man comes up with all sorts of crazy ideas as to what God is really like and the way to heaven. Jesus warned, ‘Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it’ (Matthew 7:13). The Bible says, ‘There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death’ (Proverbs 14:12).
Thank God, the Lord is there to give us understanding if we ask for it. God asked Solomon what he wanted. When he asked for wisdom and understanding to be a good ruler, it really pleased God and He also gave him what he did not ask for – riches and honour.2 Even today we still talk about the wisdom of Solomon.
God will be pleased with us too when we humbles ourselves and ask for His help and guidance.
In Part 2 we shall study, “What we need to do”.
Endnotes:
1 Genesis 3:1-19 2 1 Kings 3:1-15
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