One of our granddaughters lives with us, and as of this writing, she is not quite a year old. She is a precious, beautiful child, who is bold, energetic, and full of curiosity. Not surprisingly, she wasn’t even ten months old when she started walking, and containing her is a daily challenge. With the playpen proving to be too restrictive for this 20 lb. force of nature, we fenced in our living room with plastic fencing in order to keep her from the fireplace, the stereo cabinet, bookshelves, electrical outlets… and we constructed a gate, so that us older folks didn’t have to hurdle our way in to, and out of, the living room. Within this room sized play yard, there are all manner of soft, colorful, musical, and educational things for her to engage with. Above all else it is intended to be a safe space for her to learn and grow; but from its inception she has made it her mission to escape from it.
In this endeavor, she has demonstrated amazing resourcefulness, as she’s tried to pull the fence up to crawl underneath it; to slide herself between the seams in the panels, and to push the fence (or gate) down. When those efforts have failed, she’s pushed her rocking chair, or her wheeled horse to the fence, and tried to use them to climb over it. Often times, she’ll stand at the gate, and shake it by its bars. Every time the gate is open, she stops what she’s doing and runs toward it. Every time the gate closes, she lets out a yelp of protest. Indeed, the mere existence of this fence seems to be an affront to her soul. Even without a conscious understanding of it, she instinctively pushes against the concept of limitations or boundaries.
Similarly, while she shows little interest in pacifiers, most teething biscuits, and baby food in general, she will readily stick shoes, used tissues, clumps of dog hair… in her mouth. Protecting her requires constant vigilance, and quick hands.
As I have prayed for this little one, the Lord has impressed upon me that this is how it is with His children as well. Like us, He tried to setup a safe and ideal situation for them, but they chose to go their own way. He then tried to create healthy boundaries to keep them safe, but they perceive that He is trying to keep them from the “good stuff”, and rebel against them. Indeed, the very idea that He would set limitations causes them to doubt His goodness. Likewise, He tries to provide them with daily bread (i.e. wisdom and words of life) for growth and well-being, but they readily choose to dumpster dive (i.e. on the empty philosophies of mankind) for their meals instead.
And in all this, I see myself. Please Lord, not my will, but thine be done!
Bjcorbin's Blog 
Presumption
April 7, 2022 by bjcorbin
After working in the nuclear industry for nearly four decades, I have developed the habit of approaching issues in a scientific manner. As such, I tend to look for the elements that are known (i.e. proven, reliable), or in mathematical terms, constant; because it is the arrangement of these constants that facilitates the determination of variables (e.g. if A+B=C, then knowing A and C will allow me to solve for B).
Similarly, when developing a theory, it is important to identify the assumptions, because they play a significant role in the interpretation of experimental outcomes. Faulty assumptions result in the misinterpretation of data, which then leads to wrong conclusions.
Most of us would like to think that our assumptions are rooted in truth, but it would be more accurate to say that they are based on what we believe to be true. Jesus is the embodiment of truth (John 14:6), and our revelation of Him is partial at best (1Cor.13:9). Consequently, our presumptions about truth tend to be more entrenched in our personal experience (including what we’ve been taught) than in anything that might qualify as factual.
The idea that we somehow have an innate ability to discern the difference between what is right and what is wrong (i.e. good versus evil) is part of what the serpent promised Eve in the garden, and mankind has been eating of that fruit ever since.
Indeed, there is a way that seems right to a man (i.e. that he presumes to be right), but in the end it leads to death (Prov. 14:12). Scripture’s exhortations to God’s children are predicated on His direct involvement; I can do all things through Christ who strengths me (Phil.4:13), with God all things are possible (Matt.19:26), those who abide in vine will produce much fruit (John 15:5)… Jesus warned that apart from Him we could do “nothing” and I am convinced that He means absolutely nothing!
The concept of sanctification seems to imply that believers eventually mature to a point of being immune to the temptation of doing what is right in their own eyes, but nothing in scripture supports such a notion.
As a young child, riding in the back of my parent’s car, I didn’t pay attention to where we were going, because my father was driving, and I trusted that He knew the best way to get us there. Even as an adult, I would never have presumed to take the wheel of my father’s car. Why should it be different with my heavenly Father?
Minute by minute, we have to make a conscious effort to take every thought captive (2Cor. 10:5), to not lean on our own understanding (Prov. 3:5), to partake of the divine nature (2Pet.1:4), and to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matt.4:4). Even with the best of intentions, we can effortlessly slip into presumption, and not even recognize that we’re doing it.
How often do we act or speak in Jesus’ name, without ever consulting Him on the matter? We presume that our knowledge of scripture qualifies us to handle an issue, and then wonder why our ministry doesn’t produce more real fruit. Peter presumed he was saving Jesus when he grabbed the sword in the garden, just as Saul presumed he was doing God’s work by persecuting Jesus’ followers. In both cases, God intervened on a personal level to stop them.
Ministers who have a sense of calling on their lives, or have been given a vision for their ministry, often begin to pursue the calling/vision instead of continuing to trust the Lord to guide them step by step to that destiny.
God gives someone an anointing to flow in a particular gift, and they presume that they are now empowered to dispense that blessing as they see fit; even to the point of marketing it, or offering to “impart” it for the right price.
Even simple prayers of petition can be laced with presumption, as we beseech God to do what we believe is needed, instead of seeking to understand His perspective and will for a given situation.
When we read 2Chron. 7:14 as a call to pray for our nation, we presume that we’ve already humbled ourselves, turned from our wicked ways, and sought His face. Praying for a hundred fold return on every seed planted presumes that we’ve planted nothing but “good” seed. Praying for God to send revival, send the fire, send… presumes that we’ve exhausted the resources He’s already sent (i.e. His Son and His Spirit) and that they were somehow insufficient to accomplish what He’s called us to.
If Jesus, a faultless son with intimate knowledge of His Father, refused to act without His Father’s guidance on a matter, than how can we presume to do otherwise? If we genuinely fear the Lord, we ought to fear speaking, and taking action, apart from Him.
Ultimately, it is the presumption that we know what is best for us, and/or what will make us “happy”, and/or what is needed in any given situation, that keeps us from experiencing the “exceedingly, abundantly more than we could ever ask for, or imagine” (Eph.3:20).
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