Today's Scripture Reading (September 10, 2025): Psalm 138 & 139
Several decades ago, it
became a fad for young women in their teens to begin praying for the one that
God had chosen for them to marry. It started with girls, but quickly spread to
the boys. Soon, young Christian men and women were praying that God would
reveal to them the one that he had created just for them. They prayed prayers
of protection over their future mates and imagined those same future mates
kneeling beside their beds, praying for them. It was a beautiful scene; who
could argue that this must be the way God worked in our world?
It is still happening. Young
Christian men and women pray for the one that God has prepared for them. And
then, sometimes, old, unromantic codgers like me stand up and argue that that
isn't the way God works. Actually, the problem is that a number of these men
and women have actually found the one that God had prepared for them, and for a
while, everything went well. But then, life entered the relationship. The job
demanded long hours. Children entered the relationship and made demands on time
and money. And speaking of money, there never seemed to be enough to go around.
The romance that had once existed between these two Christian young people now
had to fight with other problems to survive.
Then someone else entered the
situation. She was pretty and carefree. He seemed to pay attention to her the
way her husband used to. Soon, a relationship begins. In the beginning, it is
innocent and fun. But it raises questions. If I am married to the one God
prepared for me, then why do I feel this way about another person, and why do
they seem to share those same feelings about me? It doesn't take long for the
answer to arise. I rushed into my marriage. My husband/wife is not the one God
prepared for me. This new person is. How could I have been so stupid? How could
things be fixed? Surely, God wouldn't want me to stay in my marriage with the
wrong person. God would approve of a divorce if it brought me into a
relationship with that special one that He has prepared for me. So, that is
what they decide to do—a divorce, a new relationship, and a marriage to the
one. And the cycle starts over again.
The problem is our belief in
the one. I think it's more realistic to say that God has created a thousand
people I could be happy with, but I have chosen my wife. I also believe that is
a much more romantic idea. And later, when that other one comes up, we can
smile and say, "Yes, I could be happy with you, but I know that I have
already made my choice before God." I have chosen my "one."
Are you ready for a surprise?
I am uncomfortable with the "omni" picture of God that we often think
of as one of the main characteristics of God. I am not sure that God knows
everything. I believe our ability to choose means that there are some things
that God does not know, and there are ways that we can still surprise him, both
good and bad, by the things that we do.
Notice what David doesn't say
as he opens Psalm 139. He doesn't say, Lord, You know everything. He says,
"You have searched me and know me." You know me as I was, and you
know me as I am. And as I grow older, you will know who I am becoming. And that
is enough. And as for our mates, well, I know that you know them too. And that
you have honored our choices as we continue in our relationships, as long as
those relationships continue to honor you.
Tomorrow's Scripture Reading:
Psalm 140 & 141
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