Blinded by the Light 7 Magic Formulas - The Solution

If you have a piece of equipment which is old and doesn't work properly, you try to repair it. But if it is new and doesn't work properly, you send it back to the manufacturer. Jesus is “the author and perfecter of our faith” (Heb.12:2). If there is something wrong with your faith, send it back to him who gave it to you and let him put it right. The same verse says “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus”.

I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able... (“ Tim.1:12)

There are many reasons why God may not appear to respond to us. Sometimes we are simply too impatient. Sometimes we are not open minded enough to see that the answer may not be in the form we expected. Sometimes God knows better than we do what we need. Perhaps what we need is patience or trust!

What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. (Rom.9:14-16)

That wonderful lady, Corrie Ten Boom, expressed our need to trust God and his plans for us, in this poem:

My life is but a weaving, between my God and me

I do not choose the colours, He worketh steadily.

Oftimes He weaveth sorrow, and I in foolish pride,

Forget He sees the upper, and I the underside.

Not till the loom is silent and the shuttles cease to fly

Will God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why,

The dark threads are as needful in the skillful Weaver's hand,

As the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned.

If you really want a magic formula to improve your relationship with God, try this one:

Let the word of God dwell in you richly... (Col.3:16)

The scriptures will make plain to you what is to many people a mystery. They cannot see how anyone can have the power to be obedient to God's commands, to walk in his ways, and to be acceptable in his sight. The mystery is a secret no longer:

...God has chosen to make known... the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Col.1:27)

Because we have Christ in us, we no longer have to rely on our own strength. Paul told the Ephesians that God has:

“...made us alive with Christ...”

“...seated us with him in the heavenly realms...”

and prayed that they would be enlightened to understand “...his incomparably great power for us who believe.” (Eph.2:5,6; 1:19)

And Peter wrote that

“His divine power has given everything we need for life and godliness...” (2 Pet.1:3)

Previous posts in this series:

Introduction
Legalism: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
Magic Formulas: The Truth, The Trap
Further posts to come in this series:
Answers to Everything: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
Scripture Twisting: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
Superstition: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
Elitism: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
The Need to See: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
Conclusion