Athens Vineyard Church

We try to control God.   I know, we draw back when we hear that.

But we do.

It’s hard to let God be in charge.  That’s what being Lord is all about, but most of us want to control our lives, our circumstances, etc.  And we try to control God.  We even insist that he come through for us in certain ways, or that he perform a certain kind of miracle, prove that he cares, prove that he heals.

It’s the attitude that Jesus identified as the leaven of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herod.

Oh, we may call it faith.  “I’m believing God for ______ miracle.” Or making a deal.  “If you’ll do this, THEN I’ll do what you say.”  Either that, or we are trying to make sure it’s God we’re hearing and not just our own thoughts, so we try to make him answer in some specific way.  But any way we turn it, we’re trying to control him so that we can  – feel secure? – feel power?

Any way we cut it, Jesus called it leaven – or yeast.  You know how yeast is.  Just a dab ‘l do ya.  A little will permeate through your whole being, affecting how you interpret life.

I’ve recently had the opportunity to deal with a really difficult person.  He did something to me that was wrong, and it hurt me financially.  I’m having to forgive him.  That’s plain enough.

But what about my life philosophy?  God is in control of my life.  How do I interpret this situation?  Shouldn’t I be able to expect God to protect me from things like this?  Haven’t I been serving him?   When I am faithful, shouldn’t I expect people to give me favor?  On and on it goes.  The yeast of the PS&H is insidious.  I want to control how God deals with me.  But he’s God and hasn’t invited me to be in charge.  He has the remote control (except he’s not so remote).  (I know some of what he’s wanting me to learn through this!)  So, ultimately, I say, “Thank you God for being in control.  I can’t imagine how life would be if you weren’t.”