God's Thoughts: November 1999

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 5
“My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-98For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8‑9)).
Why are not our thoughts like God’s thoughts and our ways as God’s ways? When someone treats us unkindly, we often have bad thoughts towards them, but not so God. Although He hates sin, He loves the sinner and “is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil” (Luke 6:3535But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. (Luke 6:35)).
We are described in Titus 3 as being “sometime foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.” What is the thought of God about changing all this? Why, “the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared.”
Do you know what are “the secret things [that] belong unto the Lord our God” (Deuteronomy 29:2929The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. (Deuteronomy 29:29))? They are His thoughts of bringing in grace when man failed under law. How good God’s thoughts are! He purposes to replace all man’s wickedness through “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:2929The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)).
1. The disciples thought that the woman wasted the precious ointment. What was Jesus’ thought concerning this woman’s work? Matthew 26:___
2. The Lord’s thoughts were upon His suffering and death. What were the disciples’ thoughts as they disputed among themselves? Mark 9:___
3. The disciples rebuked the mothers who brought their little children to the Lord. What were the Lord’s thoughts about these children? Matthew 19:___
4. The Lord’s brethren thought that it was time for Him to go up to the feast of tabernacles. What was His reply? John 7:___
5. Peter thought that the Lord would never come to such a cruel death. What did the Lord tell him? Matthew 16:___