What does "of the LORD" really mean? I think people say it too much.

[kbean]

I was wondering, is everything "of the Lord"?

I know a couple who have just given birth to their 8th baby, this time totally unattended, without medical help at all (husband caught the baby). There are a few complications but for the most part the baby is fine.

Now I know they did it this way because they felt the Lord would help them and they were showing their faith to Him and trusting Him to take care of things.

Now I also know if things went bad, if the baby died or was injured etc., they would have said it was the Lord's decision, they were just listening to Him. It was meant to happen. They would in no way take personal responsibilty.

So I ask, IS everything of the Lord? Is this just plain foolishness? At what point in life does the "do not test the Lord your God" come in? The same can be said for seatbelts, birth control decisions, vaccinations, anywhere that there is risk involved....

sorry I know too many questions now, but thanks for listening! :sorry:

[LegomasterJC]

I agree. Some people do say that too much and some may test God. I don't worry about much because I know that God will take care of me, but at the same time, I take precautions and use common sence... I do need to drive safer though... road was wet tonight and I passed my turn in a skid... Everything went alright but I had to use some 3 point turn skillage after that. And the road was empty because it was past 12 on the way home from work.

[Rafael]

That's just the way some people are, and you have to believe the best about them, but there is nothing wrong with testing the spirits when they come and try to make you be as they are. The only way we can do that is line it up with the scriptures - the anchor of truth and faith, God's Word.
People come in all flavors......:) , and some are deceived......:(

1Jo 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.

[Jedi christian]

Well, personally, I think medical help should be gotten whenever needed. God doesn't want you to suffer. Just like some people don't want doctors to treat their disease, they just trust that God will heal them. I do not agree with this philosophy.
Even when Jesus was there, with healing at their fingertips, the people of the bible went to every doctor they could before coming to him. Like the woman with the issue of blood, and the guy whose daughter was deathly ill, and many others. I do not think that doing nothing is "of the Lord."

Jedi_Christian

[kbean]

This was a really important question to me, I feel disappointed at the lack of response, thanks to you that have added in. It still bothers and confused me, but thanks. I will search other resources...and just keep reading the Bible, although I haven't really been able to confront this issue clearly in the Bible yet....

[Rafael]

So I ask, IS everything of the Lord? Is this just plain foolishness? At what point in life does the "do not test the Lord your God" come in? The same can be said for seatbelts, birth control decisions, vaccinations, anywhere that there is risk involved....Basically we are not to push God into a corner and try Him, saying if you do this then I will believe or take some other action. He is the king and is not ordered around by us, and is due all respect for having given us such wonderful gifts and promises to grow in.
I'm not sure what the problem is you have with God's sovereignty, as indeed all things come from God, but that doesn't mean that He forces every move we make. We decide for ourselves and make plans, and if we are His child, then He makes all things work together for good - even the things that appear as bad. That is how we are able to go through trials and tough times, because we trust God that it will come out to the best in the end.
Testing the Lord is grumbling and complaining about trials and tests of life and showing a lack of faith in Him. We are supposed to trust Him for everything in life, but not just sit on our hands and wait to be fed like baby birds in a nest. sooner or later, we have to leave the nest and trust God for the provisions of an adult.

Ec 7:8 The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

1Co 10:9 Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites.

Ps 78:18 They willfully tested God in their hearts, demanding the foods they craved.

Ps 78:56 Yet though he did all this for them, they continued to test his patience. They rebelled against the Most High and refused to follow his decrees.

Ps 95:9 For there your ancestors tried my patience; they courted my wrath though they had seen my many miracles.

Heb 3:8 Don’t harden your hearts against him as Israel did when they rebelled, when they tested God’s patience in the wilderness.
9 There your ancestors tried my patience, even though they saw my miracles for forty years.
10 So I was angry with them, and I said, ‘Their hearts always turn away from me. They refuse to do what I tell them.’
11 So in my anger I made a vow: ‘They will never enter my place of rest.’"

Heb 10:29 Think how much more terrible the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God and have treated the blood of the covenant as if it were common and unholy. Such people have insulted and enraged the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to his people.
30 For we know the one who said, "I will take vengeance. I will repay those who deserve it." He also said, "The Lord will judge his own people."

[Mother Vashti]

I don't think you can say it too much. I don't think you can be too thankful for all the blessings in your life.

Perhaps you're suggesting that searching for spiritual meaning in all RL events is somewhat naive. If you are, that suggestion is tempting my agreement. However, we should recall Jesus's statement, that God remembers the smallest sparrow who passes away, and He therefore is a guardian to our life, all the more.

In effect, every event is transformed into an opportunity for the spirit: even death, defeat, and loss. It doesn't mean that God wishes calamity upon me, but rather, I'm not left to the grief and confusion that calamity brings, because it was explained to me, a long time ago, what value there is in the human soul.

[frost]

I was wondering, is everything "of the Lord"?

I know a couple who have just given birth to their 8th baby, this time totally unattended, without medical help at all (husband caught the baby). There are a few complications but for the most part the baby is fine.

Now I know they did it this way because they felt the Lord would help them and they were showing their faith to Him and trusting Him to take care of things.

Now I also know if things went bad, if the baby died or was injured etc., they would have said it was the Lord's decision, they were just listening to Him. It was meant to happen. They would in no way take personal responsibilty.

So I ask, IS everything of the Lord? Is this just plain foolishness? At what point in life does the "do not test the Lord your God" come in? The same can be said for seatbelts, birth control decisions, vaccinations, anywhere that there is risk involved....

sorry I know too many questions now, but thanks for listening! :sorry:
"Everything is of the Lord," is quite true. God is in control of everything, period. There is nothing he's not aware of, nothing he cannot change, nothing we can do to change His plans (if our doing something appears to change his plans, it was still part of His will.) As for this couple you know, these verses come to mind...

Romans 14:5-8

"One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord."

blessings...

[plmarquette]

baal - lord , owner , overseer , master ...

we have been bought with a price ....
willing bond servants ...

servants ( slaves ) of righteousness ....