"Out of Reach"

"Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them." (Psalms 79:3) I really don't think we have a clue want's going on around us; and if we did, we wouldn't know how to even begin to deal with it. Jesus warned Peter that he was in for something he would absolutely have no control over, yet he would not listen to the Master. You ever have one of those moments when you realize that something you thought you had under your control, could not be further from the truth. It makes me think of Nebuchadnezzar, when he spoke of all that he had built, by his power, and for his majesty; while the words were still in his mouth, his kingdom was departed from him. (Daniel 4:30-31) Yet he had been warned, but did not listen; he had been shown, but did not take it to heart. But, it just so happens, even our worst experience or trial can become a lesson; as it did with Nebuchadnezzar. I heard a message about learning to expect God's hand to move, and how some missionaries had gone from asking, "Will God help us in this situation," to stating, "I wonder how God will help us in this situation." It wasn't a matter of "If" any longer, it became a matter of "watch and see!" When we turn things over to God, anything can happen; but you can rest assure, it will happen for the good. But, it just so happens, it will not be our doing! We are just a tool in the hand of the Master. I know we would like to sometimes think we have a better handle on things, and that we have some control of everything that goes on around us, but we really don't. As a matter of fact, we need to be thankful every day for what we have been given, and we need to be humble enough to remember it's not really ours to keep. Do you understand the term, "out of reach?" It pretty much means that you can't reach it; even if you tried as hard as you could, it's not going to be within your power to make it happen. I was thinking about this Sunday, as I was watching a Golf Tournament. One of the guys covering the event made the claim about one of the players, "The win is now out of his reach." That did not mean that he still could not win, but it did mean that it was not within his power to win; he just needed to stay the course, and maybe the Leader might mess up; but there was nothing he could do any better in order to win. But it just so happens, that is exactly how our salvation works...
"Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by it's dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, "Abba, Father." For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God's glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering." (Romans 8:12-17) NLT