Stop playing God!
Reading: Genesis 50:15-21
“Am I in the place of God?” (Gen 50:19)
Joseph’s brothers were sore afraid after their father’s death that Joseph might pay them back. But Joseph didn’t want to take the place of God. How many times we act like God hitting others hard! As in the case of Joseph, one area where we all play God is taking vengeance. We can be assertive, but the Bible does not permit us to take vengeance. “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord (Rom 12:19). So what do we do? “Overcome evil with good” (v21).
Sometimes we think we can convert people or give them the Holy Spirit. We keep pressurising people to do this or that, especially our children or husbands. When they refuse, we get hurt. Always remember that salvation is of the Lord (Psa 3:8; Jon 2:9). I have seen people shouting and speaking in tongues and pressing the heads of people with their palms or beating with fingers while leading people to the Holy Spirit experience. John the Baptist said, “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I ... He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Mt 3:11). We can encourage people to receive the Holy Spirit and pray for them. But God alone can fill them.
It is pride that makes us take the place of God. “In the pride of your heart you say: I am a god” (Ezek 28:2). God’s reply was, “But you are a mere mortal and not a god” (v2). God keeps reminding us that we are mere mortals and not gods. This He does by allowing failures in our lives or by punishments when we lift ourselves high. It is good for us because we learn to be humble and realize we are dust and ashes. “On the appointed day, Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. They shouted: ‘This is the voice of a god, not of a man.’ Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died” (Acts 12:21- 23). Give glory to God for everything. He will not share His glory with another.
We also should not expect human beings to be gods. “Give me children, or I’ll die,” grumbled Rachel. Jacob flew in anger and said, “Am I in the place of God?” (Gen 30:1,2). Humans can do only so much. We must turn to God for all our needs.
“I am the first and I am the last; apart from Me there is no God” (Isa 44:6).
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, 8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
Stop playing God!
Reading: Genesis 50:15-21
“Am I in the place of God?” (Gen 50:19)
Joseph’s brothers were sore afraid after their father’s death that Joseph might pay them back. But Joseph didn’t want to take the place of God. How many times we act like God hitting others hard! As in the case of Joseph, one area where we all play God is taking vengeance. We can be assertive, but the Bible does not permit us to take vengeance. “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord (Rom 12:19). So what do we do? “Overcome evil with good” (v21).
Sometimes we think we can convert people or give them the Holy Spirit. We keep pressurising people to do this or that, especially our children or husbands. When they refuse, we get hurt. Always remember that salvation is of the Lord (Psa 3:8; Jon 2:9). I have seen people shouting and speaking in tongues and pressing the heads of people with their palms or beating with fingers while leading people to the Holy Spirit experience. John the Baptist said, “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I ... He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Mt 3:11). We can encourage people to receive the Holy Spirit and pray for them. But God alone can fill them.
It is pride that makes us take the place of God. “In the pride of your heart you say: I am a god” (Ezek 28:2). God’s reply was, “But you are a mere mortal and not a god” (v2). God keeps reminding us that we are mere mortals and not gods. This He does by allowing failures in our lives or by punishments when we lift ourselves high. It is good for us because we learn to be humble and realize we are dust and ashes. “On the appointed day, Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. They shouted: ‘This is the voice of a god, not of a man.’ Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died” (Acts 12:21- 23). Give glory to God for everything. He will not share His glory with another.
We also should not expect human beings to be gods. “Give me children, or I’ll die,” grumbled Rachel. Jacob flew in anger and said, “Am I in the place of God?” (Gen 30:1,2). Humans can do only so much. We must turn to God for all our needs.
“I am the first and I am the last; apart from Me there is no God” (Isa 44:6).
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, Mob:8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
