It can be hard to be still when it seems like God is under attack. John Calvin once wrote, “A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God's truth is attacked and yet would remain silent.” The desire to defend God is usually rooted in for love of God, but it’s a task that we’re ultimately not responsible, or fully equipped, to undertake.
No amount of apologetics, no degrees, and no persuasive words will ever prepare us to contend for the name of God as thoroughly as God has. Psalm 2:4 tells us that God laughs at the nations that plot against him, and Isaiah 45:23 tells us that to God every knee will bow, and every tongue will swear allegiance to him, Exodus 14:14 tells us that it is the Lord that will fight, and we have only to be silent.
There is freedom in knowing that while you and I are invited to participate in the proclamation of the gospel, we are not responsible for its success. If you’ve felt the weight of solely contending for God’s word, put that down. If you’ve believed that you are the only one who can possibly reach a person, or a people group, put that down. While God invites us to participate in his work, it is ultimately God’s work.
What changes if you believe that God is ultimately responsible for the preservation of God’s name? Do you feel more like John Calvin, defending the master, or the Psalmist, celebrating God’s sovereignty?
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