Receiving God's Ways and Thoughts

Now, to agree, I would define there simply as to harmonize in ways and thoughts. So, in order to walk together with God, we have to learn to harmonize with God’s ways and God’s thoughts.

However, by nature, the scripture makes it very clear, God’s ways and God’s thoughts are different from ours. They’re not in harmony with ours. And, furthermore, God does not change. He says that so emphatically in Malachi 3:6,

“‘I the Lord do not change.’”

So, logically, there’s only one option left to us if we’re going to accept this invitation to walk with God and meet the conditions. We have to change our ways and our thoughts.

Today, I’m going to share with you how God has made provision for us to do this. That’s what I love about the Bible. It not merely tells us where we’re wrong, but it also tells us how we can put things right. Its ultimate thrust is always positive, not negative. Brings out the negative only to show us our need for the positive.

Now, I’m going to turn back to a passage that I read yesterday in Isaiah chapter 55, verses 6 through 9, just by way of refreshing our memories. This is the passage in which God says so emphatically that His ways and thoughts are not like ours. Isaiah 55:6 through 9.

“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.”

That’s a certain urgency in that.

“Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts.”

Notice our basic problem is not just our outward actions, but it’s our inner ways and thoughts.

“Let him turn to the Lord and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.”

Thank God for that promise.

And then the Lord goes on,

“For my thoughts ‘are’ not your thoughts, neither ‘are’ your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord.”

That’s very clear, very emphatic. God’s ways and God’s thoughts are not like ours.

And then God goes on to measure the gap between His ways and thoughts and ours. And I would have to say it’s a measureless gap.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

So, the gap is as great as that between heaven and earth. And the scripture tells man that he cannot measure the height of the heavens, which we know today scientifically as well. So, there’s a measureless gap between God’s ways and thoughts and ours. How can we bridge that gap?

The answer is God provides the solution in the verses that follow. And I want to emphasize the solution originates with God, not with man. Man does not have the solution in himself. And this is what God goes on to say in Isaiah 55:10 through 13.

“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven…”

Notice, the solution comes down from heaven. It doesn’t rise up from earth.

“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers, the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed.”

Now, let me point out some of what’s implied in that beautiful picture of how God brings His ways and His thoughts down from heaven to us on earth. Let me point out, as I’ve said already, the solution originates with God. It comes down. It does not go up. Left to ourselves, we have no solution.

Second, it is God’s Word that brings His ways and thoughts down to us.

“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do these various things on earth”

that God speaks about,

“so is his word that goes out of his mouth.”

So, the solution that brings God’s ways and thoughts down to us is the Word of God coming down from God.

And then, taking the picture that God gives of rain and snow, we need to see that God’s Word can come in either way. It can come as rain, or it can come as snow. Now, rain immediately soaks into the earth, waters it, starts to make it fruitful. But snow lies on the hard surface of the earth and does not immediately do anything for it. In fact, the temperature has to change, the sun has to come into operation in order to melt the snow and make the earth capable of receiving it. But then they tell us that snow melted is even more beneficial for the earth than ordinary rain. Well, God’s Word is like that. Sometimes it comes as rain, and we can receive it immediately. Comes right into our hearts. Sometimes it seems very hard and difficult to receive.

The disciples said to Jesus at one point,

“This is a hard saying. Who can receive it?”

Well, that’s snow. And I want to give you a word of counsel. When God’s Word comes as snow into your life, don’t reject it. Just let it lie on your heart and wait for the sun of God’s love and grace to arise and melt it. And then your heart will be able to receive it. So, sometimes it comes as rain, sometimes it comes as snow, but always, if we respond aright, it ultimately brings God’s ways and thoughts down to us.

And then the Lord says it will produce two different products: bread for ourselves, seed for others. Bread is what we need to eat for our own strength and health, but seed is that which is left over to give forth for others. And God’s Word will produce both in our lives.