WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
AUGUST 18, 2024
TOPIC: LATER YOU WILL UNDERSTAND (1)
BY T. O. BANSO
“Jesus answered, ‘You don’t really know what I am doing, but later you will understand’” (John 13:7 Contemporary English Version).
There is nothing like coincidence. A writer said that coincidence is God’s way of making himself anonymous. I agree. The Most High has power over human kingdoms. “Many plans are in a man’s mind, But it is the LORD’S purpose for him that will stand (be carried out)” (Proverbs 19:21 Amplified Bible).
Many things happen in the lives of God’s children that they don’t immediately understand why. They could be positive or negative, pleasant or unpleasant. But God is working behind the scenes in their lives, orchestrating events. Even when the devil moves against His children, and tempts them to do what is wrong, God is not ignorant of this, and will not permit the devil to achieve his objective. God’s children may be cast down, but He won’t allow them to be destroyed.
Paul said, “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9 New King James Version). The Prophet Micah, representing the nation of Israel, said, “Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; when I fall, I will arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me” (Micah 7:8 New King James Version).
Many times, you cannot comprehend why God allows some things to happen to you but later you will understand. You may be wondering why despite your prayers, things still turned out the way they did, but later you will understand.
A Christian may not understand why he was denied admission to study a particular course despite being sufficiently qualified, or why he studied the course he never thought or planned to pursue. He may not understand now why God brought him into certain relationships, why he was not employed despite his excellent performance at an interview, why he didn’t get a contract despite all the efforts he made, or why God allowed him to be unfairly treated by an organization he served diligently for years. But later he will understand.
The unseen hand of God in our lives is directing us to do certain things or go to certain places unconsciously. We may not understand now but later we’ll understand. You will only understand some things later, not now.
In Chapter 2 of the book of Ruth, the Bible says that Ruth, a Moabite and widow, went to the field of Boaz, from the clan of Elimelech, in the land of Judah, to pick up the leftover grain behind the harvesters. There is no record in the Bible that she went there by any divine revelation; she just found herself going there that day and not somewhere else. She didn’t understand why. But later she understood.
God’s unseen hand was shaping her life from widowhood into another marriage. Her going to Boaz’s field was not a coincidence or luck. God arranged it. But it appeared like a chance event. In that story, Boaz, a wealthy man and a relation of Ruth’s dead husband, eventually married Ruth who, before she left Moab with her mother-in-law, Naomi, had been given a picture of a gloomy or hopeless future of no husband (Ruth 1:8-14). Ruth never knew that by going to the field of Boaz that day she was on her way to becoming one of the few women who will be mentioned in the genealogy of the Messiah (Matthew 1:1-5). Ruth eventually understood why she went to pick up leftover grain in Boaz’s field, not another’s, the day she first did.
There are things that you’re grumbling, complaining, or crying over ignorantly now. It’s because you don’t understand, but later you will understand. You will understand what God was preparing you for or why He took you through a particular route and allowed some things to happen. “Jesus answered, ‘You don’t really know what I am doing, but later you will understand’” (John 13:7 Contemporary English Version). Note the phrase “Later you will understand.” The New International Version puts John 13:7 thus: “Jesus replied, ‘You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’” See again the expression “Later you will understand.” Jesus gave Peter the reply in this scripture when he asked Him if He would wash his feet also (John 13:6).
Peter didn’t understand what Jesus was doing, washing His disciples’ feet. He said he wouldn’t allow Jesus to wash his feet but later agreed. “Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.’ Then, Lord,’ Simon Peter replied, ‘not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!’ Jesus answered, ‘A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you’” (John 13:8b-10 New International Version).
We condemn ourselves when we sin and regret our wrongs. We don’t understand why at our level we should have done that. But God is not in the dark. He does not condemn us as we condemn ourselves because of our failures. God is interested in building our character. God does not want His children to sin but He has made provision for their forgiveness if they do as they strive towards living a holy life, not engaging in wilful sin. “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One” (1 John 2:1 New International Version).
That is why Jesus still went after Peter to reinstate him into the ministry after he went fishing, his former business, probably because of his regrettable denial of Jesus thrice despite his assurance that he would rather die with Him than deny Him (Matthew 26:34-35, 75; Mark 14:30-31, 72). But after he had denied Jesus and He was crucified, Peter seemed to have abandoned ministry, disappointed in himself. He went fishing and some of the disciples followed him. But Jesus did not give up on Peter. He knew all His disciples would forsake Him and told them ahead. He knew Peter would deny Him and warned him, too, assuring him that he had prayed for him.
However, with Peter’s failure, he seemed to have lost confidence in himself and his leadership of the disciples. But Jesus still believed in him. He brought him back into the ministry and committed the leadership of the apostles into his hands (John 21:15-19).
Have you ever felt let down by yourself? Have you ever felt disappointed in yourself for the wrong you did or the sin you committed? Don’t run away from God. There is nothing you do that takes God by surprise. He knew whatever you did before you ever did it. Repent and return to God. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives” (1 John 1:9-10 New International Version).
God’s children are not sinless or perfect; they are not infallible. They are people God has called and forgiven and still forgives. You may not understand now what went wrong but repent, ask for God’s forgiveness, and learn from your sins or failures.
I will conclude this topic tomorrow. Later you will understand.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. Take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner, and cannot save yourself, and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You must join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Holy Spirit, help me to continue to have faith in God even when I don’t understand some things happening in my life. I shall keep following Jesus even when I don’t understand some things because later I shall understand. My negative and positive experiences shall work in my favour in Jesus’ name. All things shall work together for my good because I love God and He called me according to His purpose.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
