My ways and thoughts
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV)
How much superior and higher are God’s ways and thoughts than ours? We cannot truly fathom or comprehend them. We have to begin at the beginning, with God inhabiting eternity before time and space. This is hard to grasp.
It was God who created the angelic hosts, the cosmos, the solar system with beautiful planet earth, and human beings on it, according to his image and likeness, and all the creatures for our joy and pleasure. I dare not compare my ways and thoughts with his ways and thoughts.
What has God not done to give us life, and life everlasting? He created the air we breathe, the variety of foods for nourishment and water to drink, all to maintain human life on earth. God knows what we need for our daily life, and he is able to provide for our needs. (Matthew 6:25-32). And God in his love for us, gave his Son for our salvation, our everlasting life in his kingdom (John 3:16).
But how have we responded to God’s generous provision for us? We read in Proverbs 16:25: ‘There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.’ Who can deny that? Look at planet earth so wonderfully equipped to sustain life with all its wonders, but now polluted by man’s ways and thoughts.
Despite ‘our ways’, how we have lived, God’s ways have not changed: God’s thoughts are still gracious to us. In Isaiah 55:7 we read, ‘Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.’ His ways lead us to eternal life, as we walk in the steps of Jesus our Saviour, who himself is the way, the truth and the life.
The apostle Paul was so excited when he understood God’s way of salvation for Israel and the Gentiles that he burst out with an acclamation in Romans 11:33: ‘Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!’
I join him in that acclamation, because it has changed my pattern of thinking too. I extol and exalt the most high God Almighty.
Prayer
Abba Father, thank You for revealing Your thoughts and ways to us that we may know You intimately. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Study by Natu Moti
About the writer:
Natu Moti is a Deacon in the Birmingham congregation of Grace Communion International.
Local congregation:
Gracecom Birmingham
All Saints Church
George Road
Birmingham B23 7QB
Meeting time:
Saturday 1pm
Local congregational contact:
David Gibbs
Email: birmingham@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church