God's ways
Your people say, ‘The Lord's ways are not fair. He's not treating us right.’ But the fact is that it's YOUR ways that are unfair and you are the ones abusing the Lord! ~ Ezekiel 33:17 (ABP)
Jesus says: ‘If you really love me you will do what I say to do.’ ~ John 14:15 (ABP)
KEY IDEA:
Those who love the Lord will prioritize Jesus' agenda over their own -- even when they feel that their own way makes more sense.
PRAYER:
Lord, I've got a lot that I want to accomplish in life and I can't seem to get on top of it all. I was hoping that you could help me meet my goals. Instead, I am learning that you have a completely different agenda for me. So, not only am I not meeting my goals but I am having to learn your goals -- and your counterintuitive way of meeting them. Help me to come to grips with my disappointment and as I mature to embrace YOUR agenda and methods. As I grow it is becoming clearer that your ways are actually the preferred ways. Amen.
TRANSLATIONS
ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase — my own freestyle biblical adaptation — somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon
CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)
CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)
MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)
NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)
NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)
NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)
