Acceptance
John 13:7 — Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
Here’s the situation: It is Jesus’ final discourse during the last supper and he begins to wash his disciples’ feet. Peter was shocked, even indignant, when he saw Jesus humble Himself in such lowly service. Peter simply could not understand why Jesus was doing this. “I’m doing this,” Jesus said, ”for reasons you do not comprehend now but later you will understand.”
Here is a call to the discipline of acceptance as a disciple of Jesus Christ. We need to accept our inability to judge what God does and, by faith, accept His will. For example, Joseph says to his brothers, “Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good…” (Gen 50:20). Remember also that Abraham, by faith, accepted God’s call (Hebrews 11:8).
Years ago Corrie Ten Boom came to Pittsburgh to speak at a chapel in Highland Park. Corrie and her family were horribly imprisoned by the Nazis for hiding Jewish refugees in Holland. In her talk, Corrie held up the ugly, chaotic backside of a hooked rug and said, “This is how we view trails and suffering.” Then she turned the beautiful front side and said, “but this is what the Lord is doing in us. He is conforming us to the likeness of Christ.”
William Cowper said something similar in his wonderful hymn:
God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea and rides upon the storm.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; the clouds you so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break in blessings on your head.
In the case with Peter, Jesus promises him that he will one day understand. However, in following Christ, there are providences we may never understand. According to the Westminster Shorter Catechism: “God’s works of providence are, His most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all His creatures, and all their actions.” Notice His providence encompasses all, not simply some, of the actions of His creatures. This means big events like pandemics as well as trifles. Nothing escapes His purposes, not a single hair nor a falling sparrow. What might be God’s purposes in this warfare we all are in now? Some have said to bring another great awakening to America. I love hearing Franklin Graham’s invitation (commercials) to receive Christ on nation wide TV! Others have said this is God’s judgement.
In the final analysis, the purpose of providence is to benefit those who believe in Jesus Christ, namely His Church: “As the providence of God does, in general, reach to all creatures; so, after, a most special manner, it takes care of His Church, and disposes all things to the good thereof” (WCF V).
Christian, in these days of sheltering and social separation, keep in mind acceptance. Everything that happens fits into a pattern for your good and is meant for your conforming to Christ (Romans 8:28-29). Even this awful time is for the benefit of Christ’s Church. In acceptance lies peace.
A prayer of John Bunyan for your consideration:
We have obtained grace to give ourselves to you, Lord, through your mercy, and to one another. To have communion with one another, as saints in one gospel fellowship, we agree and promise before God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ to walk together in this one gospel communion and fellowship as the Church of Jesus Christ. We also promise, Lord, with the Spirit’s help, to follow after the things which make for peace, and the things with which we may build each other up. Amen.