GOD’S PLANS (part-1)

GOD’S CHILDREN / HIS PLAN FOR US

BIBLE PASSAGE:
“Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we
will be, has not yet been made known. But we know that
when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall
see Him as He is.”
(1 John 3:2)

MEDITATION:
If Jesus is Lord of your life, then not only is your entire life ordered,
but so is every single step within your life. God has a plan for the
plumber as well as the preacher; for the mechanic as well as the
missionary; for the housewife as well as the vice-president; for the
manager as well as the employee.

Think about this:
    If God has called you to be an electrician and you
    become a missionary, you are accepting second best!

To find God’s will is the highest achievement in our life. We
don’t spell ‘success’ M-O-N-E-Y; we don’t spell it F-A-M-E.
Success is the continuous realization of the will of God which
is – to become who God wants us to be.

It means sacrificing our desires for His will. It includes a desire to
see all people receive salvation from the Lord. It encompasses all
that we know about Jesus (His characteristics, His concern for
other people, His love, His desire to obey our heavenly Father, etc.).

If we expect to become who God wants us to be, then we need to
discover His purpose for our lives, don’t we? God doesn’t make
clones, He makes children! He has an ultimate plan and purpose
for each person who belongs to the family of God. That includes
you and me.

What is our purpose? It is to become more like Jesus, isn’t it?
    “…we shall be like Him”
Being like Jesus, means we will serve God where He has called
us. If we want to be more like Him, we must become obedient.
Jesus was obedient all the way to the cross. Why would He do
that? How could He face His brutal and agonizing death on the
cross, when He had done no wrong?

It had to be because His obedience replaced His preference, wouldn’t
you agree? Did Jesus want to go to the cross? If we read His prayer,
we can see how much He wanted God to have a different plan for the
salvation of all people; a plan that didn’t include His crucifixion.
    He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them,
    knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing,
    take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
    (Luke 22:41-42)

We see Him asking God if there is another plan for His life. But
at the same time, we see His love for God and His willingness to
obey His Father’s plan regardless of His own desire.

If we are true followers of Jesus, then shouldn’t we consider
God’s will more important than our own desires? How can
we follow His will for our lives if,
    – We don’t know His plan for us.
    – We aren’t willing to accept His plan for us.
    – We don’t plan to diligently pursue His will for us.

When I thought about serving the Lord, I was more than ready to
use sports or music to serve Him. But God had other plans for my
life. His plan for me included reading, writing, preparation, and
presentation. None of these were in my ‘comfort zone’!

Why would He choose this plan for me, especially since I enjoy sports
and music? Wouldn’t it have to be because serving Him where I feel
uncomfortable, would accomplish at least three things?
    – I would have to depend on Him to help me.
    – I would have to know and understand the spiritual gift He gave me.
    – I would prove my commitment to serve by following His plan
       for me instead of trying to ‘fit’ His desires into my own plans.

When God calls us to serve, He will always equip us to be successful.
Not only has He given us a spiritual gift, but He has also provided us
with the Holy Spirit to guide us, to encourage us, and to strengthen us
in the areas where we are weak and feel inadequate.

Our responsibility is to be submissive to His will and to obey Him.
When we were children, we tried to obey our earthly parents, and
as God’s children, we must commit to obeying our Heavenly Father.

ACTION:
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send?
And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
(Isaiah 6:8)

As followers of Jesus, we should ask ourselves:
    – Do I know the spiritual gift God has given me?
    – Am I using the spiritual gift I have been given?
    – Do I know God’s plan for me?
    – Am I willing to serve Him wherever He has called me to serve?
    – Have I made any effort to discover
       my spiritual gift and God’s plan for me?
    – If I don’t know the spiritual gift He has given me,
       and if I don’t know His plan for me, then what kind
       of a relationship do I have with the Lord?
    – Am I a ‘consumer’ only, or am I a ‘contributor’ to God’s ministry?
    – What excuses have I made for not following His plan for me?

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for having a plan for me.
Thank You for preparing and gifting me with all I need
to serve where You have called me. Forgive me for not
seeking Your plan for my life and for not discovering the
spiritual gift You have given me. Help me to follow the
example of Jesus and commit to obeying Your will for
my life, regardless of what area You have chosen for me.
Teach me how to use what You have given me, to commit
to obeying Your will for my life, and to depend on You
to provide all I need for serving You. I know that when
I commit to following Your plan for me, I will contribute
to Your earthly ministry, and that will please You, benefit
others, and enhance my fellowship with You.”

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