GOD’S PLANS (part-10)

AM I FULFILLING GOD’S PLANS FOR ME?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
…and be found in him, not having a righteousness
of my own that comes from the law, but that which is
through faith in Christ; the righteousness that comes
from God and is by faith.
(Philippians 3:9)

MEDITATION:
Many have been convinced by Satan that there are several doors
that lead to heaven. He has convinced a lot of folks that one of
those doors is ‘good works’.
Some say,
    “I can get to heaven if I only do enough good things,
      because God will honor all the good things I do.”

The problem with that line of thinking is threefold. First, it is a
contradiction with what we are told in God’s Word. We are told
clearly in scripture that salvation is a result of faith and is not
based on our good works.
    For it is by grace you have been saved, through
    faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the
    gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.
    (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Secondly, how would we know that our concept of good works is the
same as God’s expectations? It’s wonderful to do good works, and
God expects those who have received salvation to do good works,
but it is not the door to salvation. The scriptures tell us that God has
already prepared the good works He expects each saved individual
to pursue.
    For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ
    Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in
    advance for us to do.
    (Ephesians 2:10)

Lastly, we cannot do enough good works to earn entry into heaven.
God demands perfection, and we are not perfect. For us to enter the
Kingdom of Heaven, we must be absolutely perfect. Some ask,
    “How will I ever be perfect?”
The scriptures tell us,
    As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one
    (Romans 3:10)

There is only one avenue to perfection and that is to be clothed in the
righteousness of the Lord Jesus. His blood covers our imperfections
so we can appear faultless before God. That’s why it is important for
us to believe that Jesus went to the cross for us. What Jesus did is the
foundation of our faith, our hope and our trust that we are saved.
    God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that
    in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
    (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Does that mean that once we are saved, we can sin all we want to sin?
No, it means our desire to sin has changed and instead of wanting to
satisfy our selfish and sinful desires, we now choose to do the good
works that God has prepared for us as a way of pleasing Him. When
we do the things He expects of us, it is not a road to salvation, but
rather a desire to please Him after salvation.

Salvation is much more than obeying God’s commands, it includes a
new attitude that is under the control of the Holy Spirit. What does
that mean to us? It means we think and do things differently. Instead
of being focused on ourselves, we now have sincere concerns for the
needs of others.
    And this is His command: to believe in the name of
    His Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He
    commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands
    lives in Him, and He in them. And this is how we know
    that He lives in us: we know it by the Spirit He gave us.
    (1 John 3)

When we have the Spirit that God gave us, we will reach out to others
to see if they have concerns that we can pray about, for them. We enjoy
intercessory praying, and especially for our brothers and sisters in Christ.
We become more sensitive to those in need and look for opportunities to
encourage them. God’s Spirit convicts us that it’s no longer all about us,
but we have developed a genuine concern for others.
    Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument
    of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those
    who have been brought from death to life; and offer every
    part of yourself to Him as an instrument of righteousness.
    (Romans 6:13)

    Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone
    as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether
    you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience,
    which leads to righteousness?
    (Romans 6:16)

    You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to
    righteousness. I am using an example from everyday life
    because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer
    yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing
    wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness
    leading to holiness.
    (Romans 6:18-19)

ACTION:
Questions to consider:
    – Am I missing out on the joy of pleasing God by performing the
       good works He has prepared for me in advance of my salvation?
    – If I don’t have a desire to please Him,
       have I received His gift of salvation?
           When we have been saved, our focus should change and
           we should have a new desire to please Him, including the
           pursuit of the good works He prepared for us to do.
    – Is God’s Spirit living in me?
    – How have I been changed by His Spirit?
    – Am I inwardly or outwardly focused?
    – How often do I look for opportunities to encourage others?
    – Do I invite others to tell me of their prayer needs, and pray for them?
    – Have I become an instrument of righteousness?
    – How do I show my gratitude to God for rescuing me from death?
    – Am I a slave to righteousness?

On 2-21-2018, an icon of faith (Billy Graham) went to be with the Lord.
According to his own words, it was a trip he looked forward to his entire
life. Apparently, the good works God planned in advance for Billy Graham
included traveling the globe and telling the lost about God’s love and the
only way to receive salvation. He did that well, didn’t he? What are the
good works God has prepared in advance for you?

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for considering me worthy enough to
pursue the good works You have designed especially for me. Help
me to know what those good works are, and to diligently pursue
them. I pray that I will please You as I travel the path You have
created for me. Thank You, Jesus for going to the cross for me.
I cannot imagine the agony You endured so that I could have the
opportunity to appear righteous before God. Holy Spirit, help me
to identify the good works planned for me and encourage me to
pursue them as a way of obeying and pleasing God. Give me the
same tenacity and commitment as the apostle Paul.”

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