Blessings of Sovereignty
1 Chronicles 29:10–13
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty. 1 Chronicles 29:11

Knowledge of the sovereignty of God derives great blessings. What are they? First, it inevitably deepens our veneration of the living and true God. Without an understanding and appreciation of these truths, it is questionable whether we know the God of the Old and New Testaments at all. For what is a God whose power is constantly being thwarted by the designs of men and Satan? What kind of a God is he whose sovereignty must be increasingly restricted lest he be imagined to be invading the citadel of man’s “free will”? Who can worship such a truncated and pitiable deity? On the other hand, a God who truly rules his universe is a God to be joyfully sought after, worshiped, and obeyed.

Second, such knowledge of God gives comfort to all who are in the midst of trials, temptation, or sorrow. Temptations and sorrows do come, as we know. They come to Christians and non-Christians alike. The question is: how shall we meet them? Clearly, if we must face them with no clear certainty that they are controlled by God and are permitted only for his own good purposes, then they are meaningless and life is a tragedy. On the other hand, if God is still in control, then these circumstances are known to him and have their purpose.

Third, an understanding of the sovereignty of God will provide encouragement and joy in evangelism. How can one evangelize without this confidence? How can one propose to take a message that is so obviously unpalatable to the natural man or woman and have any hope of moving him or her to accept it, unless God is able in his sovereign grace to take such a rebellious sinner and turn him in spite of his own inclinations to faith in Jesus? If God cannot do that, how can any sane human being hope in himself to do it? On the other hand, if God is sovereign in this as in all other matters—if God calls whom he will and calls effectively—then we can be bold in evangelism, knowing that God by grace may use us as channels of his blessing. Indeed, we can know that he will use us. For it is by human testimony that he has determined to bring others to him.

Finally, a knowledge of the sovereignty of God will afford a deep sense of absolute security. If we should look to ourselves, we would have no security at all. For all about us—the lust of the flesh and eyes, and the pride of life—is stronger than we are. Yet, when we look to the strength of our God, we can be confident. To know the true God affords great security even in insecure times.

Taken from Come to the Waters by James Boice ISBN 9798887790954 used with permission from P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg NJ 08865

Scripture quotations are from the ESV (the Holy Bible English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.