“God spoke all these words: I am God, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of a life of slavery. No other gods, only me. No carved gods of any size, shape, or form of anything whatever, whether of things that fly or walk or swim. Don’t bow down to them and don’t serve them because I am God, your God, and I’m a most jealous God, punishing the children for any sins their parents pass on to them to the third, and yes, even to the fourth generation of those who hate me. But I’m unswervingly loyal to the thousands who love me and keep my commandments.” (Exodus 20:1-4 The Message Bible)
This meditation may seem long, but actually it falls into the category of “condensed,” and it should be considered helpful, profitable. Here we go! When things are out of order, look to the Lord, to dismiss the disorder. Start with the basic truth above, recognize that God is God, and there should be no other gods placed before Him, realize we need to realign our will with His will, go to His word, and then, put things in the right order. That’s how you do it!
Let me just share with you a few examples that illustrate how the above works. If your house is out of order, see what God has to say in His word about the home in The Book of Ephesians, chapter 5, verses 21-33, agree with the profitable, inspired word of God, and act on it accordingly and your house will be in order.
And listen to this one, another excerpt from Ephesians (verses 15-17), an excerpt that will help restore order, not only in the home, but everywhere in these difficult days: “So be careful how you act; these are difficult days. Don’t be fools; be wise: make the most of every opportunity you have for doing good. Don’t act thoughtlessly but try to find out and do whatever the Lord wants you to.” I’m telling you, when we see God as God, Sovereign, and surely the head of our lives, you can get things in the right order.
Parenting seems to be different nowadays. Young people are getting out of order in groves, gangs, and get-along mentalities. Things are getting out of order. Perhaps, as long as our offspring are living under our roof, we need to follow the biblical advice to teach our children and to train them up in the way that they should go. Somebody is saying, “You are getting into our sandbox Mark!” Let me correct you right here, The Lord is getting into your sandbox, and He is doing it for your good. Why? He wants you to know how to get things in order!
If your relationship with someone is out of order because you are holding on to a wrong done to you by that someone, once again, I advise you to go to the word of God and find what He has to say about forgiveness, quick reconciliation, and forgiveness. Let the Lord really be the head of your life and things will get in the right order. Keep reading!
Lately, when we look at the news daily, the reports on those in power in government seem to be out of order. We need to pray that these lawmakers heed, and don’t just heed to their oath of office, but heed to actions, standards, lessons, found in the word of God. Especially, they should look at the occasion where the elders gave King Rehoboam advice in I Kings 12:6-8. Let me help you with what it says so your prayer will emulate the elders who gave good advice to the king, realizing it is applicable to any person who rises to a position of power: ” Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How would you advise me to answer these people?” he asked. They replied, “If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.” Rehoboam did not listen, and the consequences were not good. Pray that our leaders, as I just said, will heed to the same advice, embracing the key principles in the verses I just mentioned. Then, things will get in the right order.
Couples that have got things in the wrong order when it comes to their living arrangements need to look at the order given way back in Genesis where it puts leaving one’s home to be married and then become ne flesh. Marriage came first, before moving in together. God’s in the sandbox again! The world says different, doesn’t it? I know it does. But if you want to get things in the right order, instead of the reverse order, look to the Lord God, the One described in the opening verse.
If things are out of order because things are not like you want them, believer, remember that all things work together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose. Job was allowed to be tempted by Satan and simultaneously tested by God before he was greatly blessed! Things came in the right order, and he was better for the sequence of happenings.
If you are filled with anxiety, that can get things out of order in a multiplicity of areas of your life. Again, to get things in order remember these words, and I will state them as one of our church members shared at prayer meeting this past Monday night from her favorite bible version, The Message, “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful, speaking of what happens, when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”
I know, the Lord is in everybody’s business this morning; in everybody’s sandbox. But I hope this makes you search God’s word when things, in ANY area of life, are out of order. I love you and God, who is patient, and who is filled with mercy, He loves you too. Things can be put in order is we stop leaning on our own understanding, an understanding influenced by Satan, self, and the secular world. Now, go and meditate on the verse below and all the content you have just read. Go beyond that and make the verse below apparent in your living. As my wife said, “Don’t just declare your faith, demonstrate it.” Be blessed!
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB)
Mark L. King