Living with Blessed Assurance

Free Will and God’s Sovereignty

Trusting God’s Sovereignty While Embracing Responsibility

Come, Rest, and Respond: Living in God’s Sovereign Plan

Tension of Trusting God and Responding in Faith

The tension between God’s sovereignty and human responsibility is one of the great mysteries of the Christian faith. If God is sovereign and ultimately in control, does that mean we are absolved of responsibility for our actions? Do we truly have free will, or is everything pre-determined? The Bible consistently teaches both: God is in complete control, yet we are fully responsible for our choices.

This truth is beautifully reflected in today’s readings:

• Psalm 9:7–12 reminds us that God reigns forever, establishes justice, and protects the oppressed. His sovereignty is unshakable, yet the psalm also calls us to declare His deeds and place our trust in Him.

• Matthew 11:16–30 reveals the responsibility of those who witnessed the ministry of Jesus and John the Baptist. Despite seeing God’s works firsthand, many rejected the call to repentance and grace. Jesus laments their hard-heartedness, highlighting human responsibility in the face of divine revelation. Yet, in verses 28–30, He offers a tender invitation: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” This invitation demonstrates both God’s sovereignty in offering rest and humanity’s responsibility to respond.

• Genesis 29:1–30:43 recounts Jacob’s journey—filled with personal choices, struggles, and relationships. Despite human flaws, God’s sovereign purposes are fulfilled as He continues to build His covenant people.

Sovereignty and Free Will in Harmony

The Bible does not present God’s sovereignty and human free will as contradictory. Instead, it reveals how God’s overarching plan works through our decisions, actions, and even our failures. Let’s consider how these truths apply to our lives:

1. God’s Sovereignty Does Not Absolve Us of Responsibility

While God is sovereign, He calls us to live wisely and make responsible choices. Jacob’s story in Genesis shows that human actions have real consequences. Yet, even when Jacob’s decisions were driven by personal desires, God’s greater purpose—to establish the nation of Israel—was never thwarted. In the same way, our choices matter, but they do not undermine God’s ultimate plan.

2. Free Will Exists Within God’s Sovereign Plan

Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 11:28 is both genuine and gracious: “Come to me.” This is a choice that each of us must make. God does not coerce us; He invites us. His sovereignty ensures that His purposes will be accomplished, but our responsibility lies in responding to His invitation with faith and trust.

3. God’s Sovereignty Brings Assurance, Not Fatalism

Knowing that God reigns eternally (Psalm 9:7) should not lead us to fatalism but to assurance. In a world that often feels chaotic, God’s sovereignty anchors us. We can rest in the knowledge that He is working all things for good (Romans 8:28). This truth is not an excuse for passivity but an encouragement to live boldly, trusting that our lives are in His hands.

The Invitation to Rest

Perhaps the most comforting words in today’s readings come from Jesus in Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

This invitation speaks to those who feel overwhelmed by life’s burdens, whether they stem from external circumstances or the weight of their own decisions. Jesus invites us to exchange our weariness for His rest, our striving for His peace.

His invitation is a call to trust in God’s sovereignty while actively embracing our responsibility to come to Him, learn from Him, and walk in step with Him. The yoke Jesus offers is easy, not because life becomes devoid of struggle, but because we are no longer bearing the weight alone. We walk with the One who is sovereign over all.

Living in the Tension

As Christians, we live in the tension between trusting God’s sovereignty and embracing our responsibility. We are not passive spectators in life, nor are we burdened by the impossible task of controlling everything. Instead, we are called to:

1. Trust in God’s perfect plan and timing, knowing He reigns forever.

2. Respond in faith and obedience, making choices that honor Him.

3. Rest in the assurance that, even when we falter, His purposes will prevail.

In this tension, we find freedom—not the freedom to live irresponsibly, but the freedom to live confidently, knowing that God is working all things together for our good and His glory.

Will You Respond?

The question is not whether God is sovereign—He reigns eternally. The question is how we will respond. Will we, like those in Matthew 11 who rejected Jesus, resist His invitation? Or will we come to Him, weary as we are, and find rest for our souls?

God’s sovereignty does not negate our responsibility; it empowers us to live courageously. Today, may you find peace in trusting His sovereign hand while faithfully walking in obedience. And may you respond to Jesus’ invitation, knowing that His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” —Matthew 11:28

Prayer:

Lord, You reign forever, and Your purposes stand firm through every generation. Thank You for inviting us to come to You with our burdens and find rest in Your perfect plan. Help us to trust in Your sovereignty while walking faithfully in obedience. Give us wisdom in our choices, courage in our responsibility, and peace in knowing that You are in control. May we find joy in being yoked to Christ, whose yoke is easy and burden is light. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Soli Deo Gloria

Divine Action and Human Freedom

Austin Farrer’s Metaphysical Vision

Metaphysical questions in theology and philosophy explore the fundamental nature of reality, existence, and the relationships between entities such as the divine, the human, and the material world. In theology, these questions often examine the nature and attributes of God, divine action, the soul, and the ultimate purpose of creation. In philosophy, metaphysics addresses broader issues, such as being, causality, time, space, and the essence of free will. These two disciplines intersect in profound ways, as they seek to understand the ultimate truths about existence and our place within it.

Austin Farrer, a distinguished theologian, philosopher, and biblical scholar, contributed significantly to this field by addressing some of its most challenging and enduring questions. Among his most notable achievements was his exploration of the relationship between divine action and human free will. This topic, central to metaphysical inquiry, has intrigued and challenged thinkers for centuries. Farrer’s seminal work, The Freedom of the Will (1958), represents the culmination of his engagement with this issue, offering a uniquely Christian philosophical perspective.

Farrer approached the problem of free will with intellectual rigor and spiritual sensitivity, integrating insights from classical theology, modern philosophy, and biblical thought. He rejected deterministic views that negated human freedom, arguing instead that free will is a defining characteristic of human nature, deeply tied to the biblical notion of humans being created in the image of God. At the same time, he resisted simplistic notions of autonomy that excluded divine influence, emphasizing that God’s action and human freedom are not mutually exclusive but intricately interwoven.

In The Freedom of the Will, Farrer developed a model of divine action that preserved human responsibility while affirming God’s sovereignty. He proposed that God’s providence operates not by overriding human decisions but by working through them. For Farrer, divine action is cooperative rather than coercive, aligning with the biblical depiction of a God who invites and empowers rather than compels. This framework allowed him to affirm the meaningfulness of human choices while maintaining that God is the ultimate ground of all being and action.

One of Farrer’s most significant philosophical contributions lay in his nuanced understanding of causation. He distinguished between primary and secondary causes to explain the relationship between God and human action. In this view, God, as the primary cause, is the ultimate source of all existence and agency. Humans, as secondary causes, exercise their will within the framework of divine providence. This distinction enabled Farrer to navigate the tension between divine omnipotence and human freedom, offering a coherent account of how God’s purposes are fulfilled without undermining human agency.

Farrer’s metaphysical framework was not merely an intellectual construct; it had profound pastoral and theological implications. His insights offered a hopeful perspective on human moral and spiritual growth, portraying free will as the arena where individuals respond to God’s grace. This model encouraged believers to see their choices as both deeply personal and eternally significant, a participation in God’s redemptive work. In this way, Farrer connected abstract metaphysical concepts with the lived experience of faith.

For Farrer, metaphysical questions were not isolated academic concerns but deeply tied to the practical and spiritual realities of human existence. He viewed the inquiry into divine action and human freedom as essential to understanding the Christian life. How does God act in the world? How do humans respond to God’s initiative? What does it mean to live in a way that reflects God’s purposes? These questions, while metaphysical in nature, had direct implications for how Farrer understood faith, prayer, and moral responsibility.

In his theological writings, Farrer often linked his metaphysical ideas to the Christian experience of grace. He argued that God’s action in the world is not a matter of overwhelming human will but of enabling it. God’s grace empowers human freedom, making it possible for individuals to align their will with God’s purposes. This alignment, far from being a loss of freedom, is its fulfillment. In this way, Farrer echoed the thought of Augustine, who famously wrote that true freedom is found in loving and serving God.

Beyond the philosophical and theological dimensions, Farrer’s work addressed existential concerns about purpose, morality, and destiny. He believed that metaphysical inquiry could bridge the gap between divine mystery and human understanding, illuminating the ways in which humans relate to God and the world. By grappling with these abstract questions, Farrer sought to make them directly relevant to spiritual life and human experience. His work demonstrated that metaphysical questions about reality, causation, and free will are not merely theoretical but deeply practical, influencing how people understand their lives and their relationship with God.

Farrer’s contributions to metaphysics also extended into his broader theological writings, where he explored how divine-human interaction shapes the moral and spiritual dimensions of life. His sermons and essays frequently addressed the ways in which God’s love empowers human freedom, calling people to a deeper alignment with divine purposes. He viewed this alignment as a cooperative act of will, in which humans, empowered by grace, participate in God’s work of redemption.

A hallmark of Farrer’s thought was his insistence on the coherence of faith and reason. He believed that metaphysical questions, while complex and abstract, could illuminate the mysteries of faith when approached with intellectual honesty and theological sensitivity. His work exemplifies how metaphysical inquiry can enrich both theology and philosophy, providing a framework for understanding the profound interaction between divine sovereignty and human freedom.

In The Freedom of the Will, Farrer offered a model of divine action that respects the complexities of metaphysics while remaining deeply rooted in the Christian tradition. His account of primary and secondary causation provides a robust framework for understanding how God’s purposes are fulfilled in the world without negating human responsibility. By emphasizing the cooperative nature of divine action, Farrer affirmed the dignity of human freedom while maintaining the centrality of God’s sovereignty.

Ultimately, Farrer’s engagement with metaphysical questions reflects his conviction that theology and philosophy are not separate disciplines but complementary ways of seeking truth. His work bridges the gap between abstract metaphysical concepts and the lived realities of faith, offering insights that continue to inspire and challenge those who grapple with the mysteries of divine action and human freedom.

In summary, metaphysical questions in theology and philosophy explore the deepest aspects of existence, asking how God interacts with creation, how humans exercise free will, and how these realities intersect. Austin Farrer’s contributions to this field, particularly in The Freedom of the Will, provide a profound and coherent framework for understanding these issues. His work affirms that metaphysics is not merely an intellectual exercise but a vital means of deepening our understanding of God, humanity, and the nature of reality. By addressing these questions with theological depth and philosophical precision, Farrer offered a vision of divine-human interaction that continues to resonate with believers and thinkers alike.

Soli Deo Gloria

Jesus’ Invitation to Rest and Renewal

The Yoke That Sets You Free

Trading Our Burdens for Christ’s Rest

Spiritual Rest in a Restless World

In Matthew 11:25-30, Jesus offers one of the most comforting invitations in all of Scripture: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” This passage not only speaks to those physically tired but to the spiritually weary, offering a pathway to find rest in the midst of life’s overwhelming demands. 

1. Jesus’ Prayer of Thanksgiving (v. 25-26)

Before issuing His invitation, Jesus first thanks the Father for revealing divine truths not to the “wise and learned” but to “little children.” This contrast between human wisdom and spiritual humility sets the tone for what is to follow.

William Barclay reflects on this by saying, “The heart, not the head, is the home of the gospel.” It is not the proud intellectual who grasps the gospel, but the humble heart open to God’s revelation. Jesus’ prayer acknowledges that God reveals Himself to those with a childlike dependence, not to those who rely on their own understanding.

2. The Father’s Revelation Through the Son (v. 27)

Jesus declares that all things have been committed to Him by the Father and that no one knows the Father except through the Son. This unique relationship between Father and Son underscores Jesus’ authority to reveal God to us.

Matthew Henry explains, “All things are delivered to [Christ] as the great trustee of the kingdom of heaven, the great administrator of the covenant of grace.” This intimate knowledge between Father and Son is central to the gospel message, as Jesus is the only one who can show us the true heart of the Father. Henry’s words remind us that Christ is the mediator between God and humanity, offering us access to the Father’s love and grace.

3. The Great Invitation (v. 28-30)

The central part of the passage is Jesus’ invitation to all who are weary and burdened. He calls them to come to Him for rest, offering His yoke in exchange for their heavy burdens.

Eugene Peterson, in The Message, paraphrases these verses with powerful simplicity: “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life.” Peterson’s modern rendering emphasizes the exhaustion many feel from trying to live up to religious expectations and societal pressures. Jesus’ invitation is to a relationship, not to a set of rules or a burdensome system of religion.

4. The Yoke of Christ: Easy and Light

When Jesus invites us to take His yoke, He isn’t offering us a life free from challenges but a yoke that is manageable and shared with Him. Alexander Maclaren writes, “The yoke which Christ lays upon His servants is no more a burden than are wings to a bird.” This powerful metaphor paints the yoke not as a weight, but as something that frees us to live the way we were created to live—aligned with Christ, walking in step with Him.

John Bunyan, in The Pilgrim’s Progress, portrays this rest and release when Christian comes to the cross, and the heavy burden he had been carrying falls off his back. This is the essence of the rest Jesus promises: a removal of the burdens we were never meant to bear on our own, as we trust in Him and walk alongside Him in obedience and faith.

Charles Spurgeon expands on this idea, saying, “There is no rest for any man but that which comes from a close and intimate union with Christ.” The yoke, in Spurgeon’s view, is the closeness of relationship with Jesus. Our burden becomes light not because life gets easier but because we no longer carry it alone—Jesus bears it with us.

5. Learning from Jesus: Gentle and Humble in Heart

Jesus describes Himself as “gentle and humble in heart,” a stark contrast to the harsh demands of the religious leaders of His day, who burdened people with legalistic requirements. His gentleness is what makes His yoke light, and His humility shows us the posture we should adopt in our spiritual walk.

John Stott reflects on this humility, noting, “It is because Jesus himself is gentle and humble in heart that he is able to offer the rest which our souls need.” Stott’s insight highlights the unique nature of Jesus as a teacher and Savior—His character is the very reason why we find rest in Him. It is His gentle, compassionate heart that makes Him approachable, drawing us near to experience true peace.

6. Rest for the Weary Soul

The rest Jesus promises is not merely physical relief, but a deep spiritual rest. Matthew Henry comments that this rest is “peace of conscience, ease of mind, and tranquility of soul.” It is a rest rooted in knowing that our sins are forgiven, that we are loved by God, and that we no longer need to strive for acceptance or approval.

John Bunyan, in The Pilgrim’s Progress, illustrates the transformative power of this rest. Christian, burdened by sin and guilt, finds relief when he comes to the cross. This moment of release echoes the spiritual rest Jesus offers—a rest that comes from casting our burdens at His feet and trusting in His finished work on the cross.

7. Conclusion: The Rest We Long For

In a world that prizes self-sufficiency and endless striving, Jesus’ invitation to come and find rest can seem countercultural. Yet it speaks directly to the deepest needs of the human heart. Charles Spurgeon concludes that “It is not, ‘Come to my doctrine, come to my church, come to my sacraments,’ but ‘Come unto me.’” Spurgeon’s reminder is that rest is not found in religion or ritual, but in a personal encounter with the living Christ.

As William Barclay writes, “The Christian life is not about what we can do for God, but what God has done for us.” In Christ, we find rest because we realize that the weight of our salvation, our burdens, and our future is not on our shoulders—it has already been carried by Jesus.

So, to all who are weary and burdened, Jesus’ invitation remains open: Come to Him. Find rest. Take up His yoke and walk alongside Him, for His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Trust in Him, and He will give you rest for your soul.

Soli Deo Gloria