A Meditation on God’s Method: inviting us to join Him.

“He [God] is a shield to all those WHO TAKE REFUGE in him” (Ps 18:30) This verse is a clear statement of God’s desired way with us: partnership.

You, Lord, prepare all and then wait for us to respond. In this process, you alert us, call us to cooperation, show us multiple times what your will is, and then you wait.

When we obey and join you in what you are doing, you act again, taking us a step further. As the verse above proclaims, WHEN we take refuge in you, you shield us. It is not automatic; you require cooperation and wait for our response. This principle is all through Scripture.

You provided salvation; we must believe:

“…to all WHO RECEIVED him [Jesus], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12

You give the Holy Spirit; we must surrender and ask to be filled: “BE FILLED with the Spirit.” Ephesians 5:18

You call us to stay in fellowship with you; we must decide to do so: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man REMAINS IN ME and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

You give direction in your Word; we must read and obey it:

“…the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but DOING IT—he will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:25

Lord, help us to recognize these opportunities to partner with you and jump to it!

Picture: an example of partnering: a rock cooperating with a tree, which has grown to envelop the rock!