He Knows Best
Rev. Trey H. Little | June 19, 2011
Trey H. Little
Sermon Text: John 14:1-6
June 19, 2011 (Father’s Day)
Albany, Texas
“He Knows Best”
I am too young to remember the series “Father Knows Best” but I am aware of the series that started on radio and then moved to TV in the early 1950’s. But what I do know is that when the series first began as a radio sitcom the title of the show ended with a question mark—suggesting that the father’s role as family leader was dubious. Interestingly enough, when the series moved to television in 1954—they took the question mark out of the title. What do you think? Should there be a question mark or not after “Father Knows Best”
Turn with me now to John 14: 1-6.
One of the things I vividly remember as a child is how competitive I was when it came to my father. I remember the banter that would go on between me and my friends: “My dad can drive the golf ball 500 yards!” “Yeah, well, my dad killed the biggest buck in the history of hunting.” “So, my dad is the boss of an entire company.” “Yeah, so, my dad can fix anything!” “So, my dad can beat up your dad!”
You remember those days don’t you?
Admittedly, there were times when some of the claims I made of my dad may have been just a bit exaggerated. Yet, I can honestly say that I was convinced that my dad knew everything. As a child, my dad was a source of comforting information. He knew how to fix things. He knew how to get places. He knew what kind of crops were growing in the fields we would drive by. He knew how to tie a tie. He knew how to cook. He knew where the deer were. He knew how to put bait on a fishing line and he knew how to clean the fish we caught. He knew how the dishwasher worked. He knew how to drive a car. He knew how to play sports. As a child, I thought my father knew what was best. Of course, the older I got, the “smarter” I got and the dumber my dad got. I went from thinking “He knows best” to “I know best.” What was I thinking?
Could the same be said of our walks with Jesus? Could it be that we think we are smarter?
Jesus had just enjoyed the Passover meal with His disciples. He had washed their feet as an act of servanthood—one He had hoped would be modeled by His disciples. He had foretold His betrayal which Judas would soon perform. He had predicted Peter’s denial. He had even told His disciples He was leaving. All this, as you can imagine, caused the disciples a bit of unrest. Knowing this, Jesus provides them with these words of hope and comfort: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; Trust also in me.”
Hardship has a way of getting our attention. When things don’t go the way we have them drawn up we have a tendency to get a bit anxious. We tend to be slowed down by pain in our lives. In fact, very few of us, after facing a trial, come out the same way we went into it. I am convinced that Jesus understood this and attempted to prepare His disciples—and us—for the road ahead and He wants us to know that faith overcomes worry.
Over the past week I have had numerous phone calls and several visitors to my office. I thank the Lord for the grace and compassion and encouragement so many of you have shared with me and my family. However, I must also say that I have sensed a touch of anxiety and worry from several people. Some of us are worried about what the future holds for MMPC. Others of us are worried about who the next pastor will be. Still others of us are worried about the future of The Feed Store ministry. Who will preach? Who will teach? Who will take care of all the details? Let’s face it—we are human and all of us deal with things differently and worrying is something we are all very capable of doing.
Friends, worry distorts reality! When we worry we are basically saying that we don’t trust that He knows best. When we worry we place the world on our shoulders rather than laying our worries and concerns at the feet of Jesus. When we worry our stomachs churn and our hearts ache but when we TRUST in Him we receive a peace that doesn’t make any sense.
Perhaps you are here this morning and things still aren’t making sense. Will you trust in Jesus yet again this morning? Will you allow Him to comfort you this morning?
The story goes of an airplane pilot speaking over the planes intercom system
with this announcement: “We have lost one of our engines. No need to worry, we will be arriving 1 hour later than anticipated.” About 30 minutes later the pilot came back on the intercom and said: “We have lost another engine; we will be arriving 2 hours later than anticipated.” Then, 1 hour later, the pilot again came over the intercom and said, “We have lost our 3rd engine and we will be arriving 4 hours later than anticipated.” About that time one of the passengers said to her husband, “I’m stating to get worried, if that last engine goes we will be up here all night” (Brett Blair).
Friends, worry distorts reality but trusting in Jesus keeps us on schedule.
But also, trusting in Jesus results in direction. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” He said this “I am” statement in response to Thomas’ question, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
Undoubtedly, there are times in our lives when we echo Thomas’ sentiments. Times when we don’t know where the Lord is going. Times when we feel a bit lost in the direction the Lord is leading us. Quite frankly, many of us might feel this is one of those times. But Jesus was there to remind Thomas and the disciples and us that He is The Way—that He can be trusted—and that He is the giver and sustainer of life! The challenge for you and me is to keep our eyes and hearts and minds fixed on His direction. Because you know what the evil one would love? He would love for us to just fold up shop. For us to just walk around in circles anxiously worrying about who will lead MMPC. He would love for us to stop coming to church; to stop serving on ministry teams; to stop inviting people to be a part of this wonderful church family; to stop giving and to stop trusting that “The Father knows Best.”
Friends, you have a leader, His name is Jesus. You have a WAY, His name is Jesus. My prayer for us is that we will live our lives for God’s fame and not our own. That we will live to let God show up and show off in our lives. That we will allow His good and perfect direction for our lives challenge us every day to be the people He has called us to be. That you will continue to be the church He has called you to be. That you will continue to trust Him to lead you to places you never imagined you would go. That you would believe with complete faithfulness that HE KNOWS BEST!
I want to close by sharing an excerpt from a devotional I read this past week. The context of this particular piece was when Moses had realized that it was not going to be him leading the people into the Promised Land but instead God had chosen a different person to do this—his name was Joshua. Chuck Swindoll writes, “I am always amazed to hear how the Lord uses His Word in the lives of His people. I don’t know your circumstances. It may be that these words fall on a very hungry heart. Or perhaps you have been strengthened and encouraged with the thought that you are very special to God, that none of His children are insignificant. Or maybe, you are engaged in the awesome task of finding a man or a woman for a position that carries a great weight of responsibility, and you have been reminded that you are dependent more than ever, on God to locate His Joshua. Or perhaps you are that Joshua, and you have been asked to accept a responsibility broader than you ever dreamed.
Whatever you circumstances, I want to remind you that our heavenly Father cares about areas of your life that would seem insignificant to a distant deity. He’s never too busy to hear your hurts, to wipe away your tears, to whisper words of encouragement, and to put His big shoulder under your head. He’s the God who cares about the details.
Friend, God can meet your needs as only He can. You don’t need to worry that you will be forgotten. In fact, you don’t need to worry about anything. You are right where you ought to be. Remind yourself that He is sovereign. He has everything under His control. He will have His way in His time for His glory, which includes your life, your position, and your future. Worrying over any of that is a waste. He’s got every detail covered—every one. Think of it this way: There is no such thing as God’s being almost sovereign.”
Friends, He knows best! That is not an exaggerated claim—that is Biblical. Question is: Will you trust Him?
AMEN.
