I remember those argumentative moments like they were yesterday.
It didn’t matter what the topic was, it always ended the same. Whether I was 5-years-old begging for a cookie before supper or a teenager asking to stay out late on a school night or even in college asking for who-knows-what, after a barrage of “why’s” or “why nots” from my end, the conversations with my loving parents almost always ended the same:
“BECAUSE I SAID SO!”
Those four little words made my blood boil. Mainly because I didn’t get what I wanted (and I really wanted that cookie. Still do.) But also because those words mean their decision was absolute.
No negotiations left. Nada. Zip. End ‘O Story. Close the chapter and move on.
Ah, the joys of being parents. (I may or may not be preparing myself to say those same words to our little daughter someday in the future.)
As we know, God is like our parents. (Only sinless and always just– sorry Mom and Dad. Love you.) But His way of treating us is sort of similar to those “final answer” moments with our parental units in the days of our youth.
Which brings us to today’s truth about God…
God is Absolute
Hmm… God is absolute. What exactly does that mean? Well, it means that He is perfect. He is complete.
And His answers are absolute.
God is not a God to be negotiated with. Sure, He listens to our pleas and hears our cries… but He is not one to strike up a bargain with us just because we want that “cookie” right now.
His answers are absolute. And that is hard sometimes– especially when His answers don’t match up with our opinions on what we need.
One of my favorite scriptures is from Luke 11:11-13 that talks about this very subject. Let’s check it out, shall we?
In the NIV it says:
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Wait, what about a fish and a snake? Let’s try that again. Here’s The Message version:
“Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This is not a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your little boy asks for a serving of fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? If your little girl asks for an egg, do you trick her with a spider? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing—you’re at least decent to your own children. And don’t you think the Father who conceived you in love will give the Holy Spirit when you ask him?”
The first several times I read this scripture, it might as well been in Chinese for as much as I understood it. But then one day at church, it finally made sense…
God is going to give us what we need, not what we want… Even if we can’t see the TRUE need in the moment.
That is where God’s absoluteness comes in. He loves us so immensely that He is going to give us the absolute best– even if from our earthly perspective it seems like the most terrible outcome possible.
There have certainly been moments where I have been tempted to bargain with God, begging for something that seemed to be the “perfect” solution to my current problem. Like my freshman year in college when I begged for an A in Chemistry II. I got a C. The first C of my ENTIRE LIFE. I thought my world was going to end.
But guess what? It didn’t. And now looking back, getting that C was the best thing that could have happened to me, because it taught me so much… Mainly that I stink at Chemistry, but also that I am not perfect– and do not have to be.
Because God’s love covers me, regardless of my performance. I have since learned to trust God’s absolute answers with more confidence, knowing that He would never give me a snake in place of the fish that I begged for…
Do you have a similar fish/snake, egg/scorpion story that deals with God’s absolute answers in your life? I would love to hear all about it. Comment here.
Trust in this truth, my friends. Sometimes God isn’t going to give us that “cookie” that we begged for or threw the tantrum. But He will give us what is best.
Because God is absolutely absolute!
Resting in His Absoluteness,
“Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God.” ~1 Kings 18:24 NIV
Linking up today with my sweet friend Beth over at Three-word Wednesday and also with Walking Redeemed. Oh! And be sure to join our #EverydayJesus link-up community right here at 7 Days Time every Thursday!
