KNOWING GOD – “THE INITIATOR AND OUR SUSTAINER”

God has different dimensions to His being. Knowing them helps us know God better, and understand Him and His dealing better. The greater the knowledge of God’s traits and dimensions, the deeper and stronger our faith and our trust in God. 

Henry Steele, the father of English Baptist hymnwriter Anne Steele, records these precious words in his diary, which help us gain an insight into his understanding of God, and essential things related to it.
– “This day Nanny sent a part of her compositions to London to be printed. I entreat a gracious God, who enabled and stirred her up to such a work, to direct her in it, and to bless it for the good and comfort of many. I pray God to make it useful, and to keep her humble.” – Henry Steele’s journal

Yesterday we looked at “I ENTREAT A GRACIOUS GOD” from what Henry Steele wrote down in his diary, on 29 November 1757. Today let us look at another part of Henry Steele’s understanding about, who God is. He writes in his diary – “…WHO ENABLED AND STIRRED HER UP TO SUCH A WORK…”

“WHO ENABLED AND STIRRED HER UP TO SUCH A WORK”
Here in these words we see that, Henry Steele intentionally, with deep humility and gratitude, acknowledging the fact that, it is God who initiates, enables, sustains and keeps on stirring the gifts and talents, that He so graciously bestowed upon his daughter Anne Steele. Sadly and tragically, many of us either miss to acknowledged God properly, if not entirely, or simply ignore the fact all together, as if it were, a matter of fact thing.

1- WHO ENABLED HER
Henry Steele thinks and believes, and rightly so that, his daughter Anne Steele, is ENABLED by God Almighty in her pursuit of writing songs for God. Such an understanding not only gives us proper perspective of our talents, but also, acknowledges the Author and the Initiator of all what we possess. This certainly will fill us with humility towards God, and view everything else, and especially ourselves humbly.

2- WHO STIRRED HER UP
Henry Steele firmly believes that God not only ENABLES his daughter, but also keeps on STIRRING her, so that she would be restless untill she does, what she is supposed to do with the talents, that God had given her. How wonderful it is to know that, God keeps on stirring us to do, what we are expected to do. Such an insight helps us to appreciate God, even more, and be thankful to Him for the gift, and also be reminded, through His stirring, to use it profitably.

3- TO SUCH A WORK
Henry Steele had deep understanding of God, and how He works. Hence he writes, “TO SUCH A WORK” which enables us to know that, God ENABLES us, and STIRS us, for the benefit of the kingdom of God, and for the blessing of His people, and not to build our own little kingdoms. The WORK is LORD’s, so also the talents, He so graciously bestows upon us. Hence, the LORD expects us to use our talents for His work.

Many times, when we receive abilities and talents from God, we begin to shift our focus from God, and the purpose for which He had given it to us, in the first place. Instead, we begin to look inward, taking pride about this special ability that we possess, and begin to become self-centred, boastful and arrogant.
– “14 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.” – Matthew 25:14-15

Henry Steele and his daughter Anne Steele knew their God. They were firm in their understanding about who God is. How about us this morning? How are we handling our talents and abilities gifted to us by God? Do we think, speak and behave like how Henry Steele was, in relation to the gifts that his daughter possessed? Gaining a proper understanding about God, is essential for our right living, for the glory of God, for the benefit of His kingdom, and for the blessing of His people. Even so, the LORD help us.