The Lord moves in mysterious ways

One of the things of the written word that I really enjoy reading is “quotations.”  As a matter of fact, I have several books of quotations that I just sit and peruse quite often.  I get a lot of inspiration from them, especially the ones that people think originate in the Bible.  As an example, here are a few fitting that category that come to mind.

First, “The Lord moves in mysterious ways.”  We hear that one frequently, don’t we?  OK, here’s another: “Cleanliness is next to godliness.”  And, to use up our allotted time and space today, here’s one more: “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.” There’s more, but these should be sufficient for our thoughts today.

Let’s take the first one and I’ll ask: is it in the Bible or not?  The answer is “No.”  In fact the word “mysterious” doesn’t appear anywhere in the Bible.  I’ll grant you that how He thinks is a mystery to man as we see from what the Prophet Isaiah wrote in Isa. 55:8-9. 

The actual quotation was written by an English poet and hymn writer by the name of William Cowper back in the 1700's.  The quotation “God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform” is a line in one of his hymns.  The Bible does speak of a “mystery” and a little study will show that the “Gospel of Christ” is the “mystery” that the “prophets and righteous men desired to know” but didn’t until Christ came and revealed it.  Paul also tells us that what was a “mystery” has turned out to be the “Gospel.”  You can check this out in Matt. 13:17 and Romans 16:25-27.

Now, how about a look at the second one on our list, “Cleanliness is next to godliness.”  Well, I hate to break your heart but, that oft-spoken quote did not come from the Bible either.  In fact, the word “cleanliness” is not even in the Bible.  It actually originated from a sermon preached by John Wesley in which he said, “Slovenliness is no part of religion, cleanliness is indeed next to godliness.”

However, Jesus touched on the subject by telling us what is important about being “clean.”  If you turn to the 15th chapter of Matthew you can read about an event where the Jews were upset because the disciples were eating and had not washed their hands.  And here is a classic example of someone making “cleanliness” a part of religion, but let’s look at what Christ said about it.

After He chastised them for their duplicity (they were making a big deal about the washing of hands and ignoring the real commands of the Law) He told them (and us) where a person needs to be “clean” - in their “heart.”  That it’s the inner man that has to be “clean” because that’s where our actions come from.

One more thought on “cleanliness” before we move on.  The word “godliness” does appear in the Bible and the Greek word translated “godliness” means “holiness.”  Does that help us better understand what Peter wrote in 2Pet. 1:6?  That “patience is next to godliness.”  Not “cleanliness.”

Well, let’s look at our 3rd quote, and it is a popular one,  “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink?”  Is it in the Bible?  I’ll not keep you in suspense - no it isn’t.  It was written by an English writer by the name of John Heywood who said, “A man may well bring a horse to the water, but he cannot make him drink.” 

This is an expression usually used to try and explain why someone didn’t listen or respond to your teaching or advice.  But, we can use it to make a spiritual point, can’t we?  As Christians, isn’t it frustrating to us at times when we preach sermons, teach lessons, hold Gospel meetings or knock doors and not get the response we’d like? 

Of course it’s frustrating at times, but we have to remember that we’re just the “sower” the “planter” and God is the harvester.  In another way of saying it, we’re just the messenger.  I think this is what Paul is saying in 1Cor. 3:6-7: “I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase.”

And here’s the bottom line to this thought.  Just because they “don’t respond” IE: “Don’t drink” we can’t stop bringing the message to them.  In another manner of saying it, the saying is true, but, you’ll never know if the horse will drink unless you lead him to the water.

Well, I find that I have a little space left over so I’ll give you one more quotation that isn’t “from the Bible” but, it is seen in principle.  A man by the name of John Churton Collins wrote this last quotation.  He was an English literary critic back in the 1800's.  He is the author of some really interesting quotes, but I’m sure that all of us can relate to this one. “In prosperity, our friends know us.  In adversity, we know our friends.”

I said that this quotation could be seen in principle in the Bible, so let me direct you to something Solomon wrote in Prov. 17:17 “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”   Then in Prov. 18:24 we read, “A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”

Who is that ‘’friend” that sticks closer than a brother, especially in times of adversity?  None other than the “Brother” of all faithful Christians - Jesus Christ.  And how can we know that we are “friends” with Him?  Very simple answer.  “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”  (John 15:14)

Respectfully submitted,

Ron Covey