God’s best

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12,2(NLT)

From the opening Scripture, we get to see that there are three levels of God’s will.

There is: ‘the good will of God’, ‘the pleasing will of God’ and ‘the perfect will of God’.

In other words, there is the GOOD, the BETTER, the BEST.

This is also portrayed in the parable of the Sower taught by Jesus (Mark 4,1-20).

The story is about a Sower who went out to sow and many things happened along the way up to the harvest.

“But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred” (Verse 20), said Jesus.

Jesus revealed that results vary: thirtyfold, sixtyfold, a hundredfold. A hundred-fold is God’s best!

“Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him. The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous; for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants. So the Philistines envied him.” Genesis 26,12-14(NKJV)

Now, what does God’s best look like?

It looks like sowing in a famine and reaping a hundred-fold. That was Isaac’s story.

It is bringing life where there is no life. It is thriving against all odds.

It is supernatural, to the point of arousing jealousy and envy.

God’s best is the abundant life that Jesus came to give us.

“.. I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10,10 KJV)

However, the hundred-fold is seen after a complete trust in God.

This is what Isaac did! God told him: “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father.” (Genesis 26, 2-3).

Because there was a famine in the land, the logical thing to do was to go to Egypt in the search of 'better conditions'. But Isaac chose to obeyed God and stayed in the land.

Matthew 19,16-22 gives us this same conversation. A rich young ruler went to Jesus asking Him what he should do to have eternal life. He felt some was lacking even though he had “kept” all the commandments. Jesus told Him: “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” (Verse 21)

Here, the word “perfect” evokes completeness, wholeness, full maturity.

The Bible says that the young ruler went away sorrowful. He was too attached to his possessions.

God’s best requires full dependency on God and on Him alone.

There are tests and trials on this journey. But God is trustworthy and faithful; He never lets down those who trust in Him. (Nahum 1,7 NIV)

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10,13 NKJV)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.” Proverbs 3,5-8 (NKJV)