Four Little Words
Sometimes it is the little things in life that can have the most transformative effect. A simple encouragement from a friend. A kind gesture by a stranger on a stressful day. The quiet faithfulness of a grandmother’s prayers. No headlines to be written about such things or grand announcements. There were four little words that we did not dwell on this past Sunday that reframe how you view your life.
As Paul motivates the Corinthians’ planned generosity by pointing to their vital partnership in the gospel, he lays out his intentions (1 Corinthians 16:1-9). I think he is serving this church functionally, missionally, and relationally. Functionally, they are being helped to know the horizon of when their gift will be needed. Missionally, Paul is aiding their partnership in the advance of the gospel by bringing them into his strategic planning. And relationally, he is conveying his concern for them, not merely what they can provide. His goal is to spend some time with them, perhaps even a number of months over winter (v.6-7).
It is in this relation context that we breezed over the four little words: "IftheLordpermits."
A throwaway phrase of sanctimony? By no means! These four little words have a transformative effect in how you view your life. We can make all of the best laid plans with the most upstanding intentions to accomplish a great cause … and then get a flat tire, stuck for hours on the side of the road … or a virus lays you up for days in bed … or your supervisor at work sets a Monday deadline requiring you to work through the weekend.
Through all of our accomplishments and all of our health and all of our abilities, we succumb to that ancient lie, “You will be like God” (Genesis 3:5). We think we exercise dominion not as image bearers but the Image. We believe our own press that we are strong, competent, capable. And we subject the truth about who is God and think it is us. We don’t get this credo tattooed on our forearms and bumper-stickered on our minivans, but when we live and move and have our being not according to those four little words, that is in fact what we are doing.
It takes only a breath to say but faith to practice. “If the Lord permits.” It is a transformative phrase because we are actually in so little control over life’s circumstances. And if we’re honest with ourselves, when our best laid plans don’t come to pass, we react far more like our children than we would admit. We are quick to throw a fit and clamor, “But you said … !” We holler and spit, not getting what it was we set out to receive. Do you not know it is the Lord who determines what comes to pass?
Make the practice of following the Apostle’s example when declaring your intentions. “We will go on our anniversary date Friday night, if the Lord permits.” “We will open our home to our neighbors to love them well, if the Lord permits.” “I will confront that fellow brother to call him back to faith and repentance, if the Lord permits.”
Four little words serve as a testimony to your mind and to your soul that you are not God but live in moment-by-moment dependence on him. Four little words to make plain, as subtle as it may be, to your children, coworkers, and neighbors that your life operates in submission to the One who rules all things according to his good pleasure. Four little words that reframe how you view life.
Just four little words: “IftheLordpermits.”
As Paul motivates the Corinthians’ planned generosity by pointing to their vital partnership in the gospel, he lays out his intentions (1 Corinthians 16:1-9). I think he is serving this church functionally, missionally, and relationally. Functionally, they are being helped to know the horizon of when their gift will be needed. Missionally, Paul is aiding their partnership in the advance of the gospel by bringing them into his strategic planning. And relationally, he is conveying his concern for them, not merely what they can provide. His goal is to spend some time with them, perhaps even a number of months over winter (v.6-7).
It is in this relation context that we breezed over the four little words: "IftheLordpermits."
A throwaway phrase of sanctimony? By no means! These four little words have a transformative effect in how you view your life. We can make all of the best laid plans with the most upstanding intentions to accomplish a great cause … and then get a flat tire, stuck for hours on the side of the road … or a virus lays you up for days in bed … or your supervisor at work sets a Monday deadline requiring you to work through the weekend.
Through all of our accomplishments and all of our health and all of our abilities, we succumb to that ancient lie, “You will be like God” (Genesis 3:5). We think we exercise dominion not as image bearers but the Image. We believe our own press that we are strong, competent, capable. And we subject the truth about who is God and think it is us. We don’t get this credo tattooed on our forearms and bumper-stickered on our minivans, but when we live and move and have our being not according to those four little words, that is in fact what we are doing.
It takes only a breath to say but faith to practice. “If the Lord permits.” It is a transformative phrase because we are actually in so little control over life’s circumstances. And if we’re honest with ourselves, when our best laid plans don’t come to pass, we react far more like our children than we would admit. We are quick to throw a fit and clamor, “But you said … !” We holler and spit, not getting what it was we set out to receive. Do you not know it is the Lord who determines what comes to pass?
Make the practice of following the Apostle’s example when declaring your intentions. “We will go on our anniversary date Friday night, if the Lord permits.” “We will open our home to our neighbors to love them well, if the Lord permits.” “I will confront that fellow brother to call him back to faith and repentance, if the Lord permits.”
Four little words serve as a testimony to your mind and to your soul that you are not God but live in moment-by-moment dependence on him. Four little words to make plain, as subtle as it may be, to your children, coworkers, and neighbors that your life operates in submission to the One who rules all things according to his good pleasure. Four little words that reframe how you view life.
Just four little words: “IftheLordpermits.”