God Plans the Future

How far in advance do you plan? Do you plan a vacation several months in advance? Do you make hotel reservations a year in advance? Do you make dinner reservations weeks in advance? Have you planned your next trip, holiday festivities, or even your next haircut?

I used to plan several weeks and months ahead. Some of that was due to not having the internet and a cell phone. That may sound strange but having them at my fingertips allows me to do things quickly. There is no longer a need to send a letter in the mail and wait for an answer.

As I observe people today, I see the same phenomenon all around. Many people are making last minute decisions. It is rare to hear someone speak of plans for several months out, let alone someone having a five- or ten-year plan. Sure, there certain things planned, such as weddings and vacations, a year or more out. But I often have people approach me wanting to schedule my time on the same day and hear people being upset that they can’t get in to see a doctor on the same day.

God plans centuries ahead. He spoke through the prophet Jeremiah approximately six-hundred years before Jesus came to earth promising he was going to make a new covenant. Not only was the prophecy about Jesus coming to make the new covenant but it also pointing to eternity. God states we will know him, meaning not just know about him but know him fully.

I pray we all understand that God has planned the future. I pray we trust God’s plan is good. I pray each one of us know God forgives us of our sins and increase our love for him because of it. God has planned the future. God’s plan is good. Your sins are forgiven. Love God for his amazing grace.

Jeremiah 31:33-34 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. No longer shall they teach one another or say to each other, “Know the Lord,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord, for I will forgive their iniquity and remember their sin no more.

God at Work

Have you experienced a back and forth of good and bad? Did you wonder when the seesaw would end? Were you wishing there was something you could do to stabilize yourself? Did you consider God was in control? Did you look forward to God turning it all to your good?

The Israelites had been through the good and the bad. They had promised to follow God’s commands and had. But they also disobeyed and faced God’s punishment. God had seen it all and withstood it all. God also has seen the entire future and knew what he planned.

The prophet Jeremiah received God’s prophecy for the future. God told Jeremiah he was going to restore Israel. He stated they would once again be prosperous. They were going to be watched over by God. He was going to build them up again. He was going to plant and reap what he planted with Israel. There is no doubt God was looking forward to the time he would send his Son to save the world.

We sometimes forget that God is looking at not just today or tomorrow but years, hundreds of years, and thousands of years into the future. His plan is laid out before him. He moves the pieces he needs to move to accomplish it. We don’t see all the pieces. We don’t know all the moves. All we can do is trust God will execute his plan and it will work for the good.

I pray we all see how God has worked in the past for the good of his people. I pray we know we cannot see all that God is doing. I pray each one of us trust God is always at work to execute his plan. See how God has worked. Trust God is always working. Trust in God’s plan.

Jeremiah 31:27-28 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of humans and the seed of animals. And just as I have watched over them to pluck up and break down, to overthrow, destroy, and bring evil, so I will watch over them to build and to plant, says the Lord.

Are You Listening?

How well do you listen? When you are in conversation, do you really listen to the other person or are you formulating your response? Are you missing meaning in your conversation due to not listening well? Are you listening for God to speak to you?

We often see, hear, or experience people who do not listen well. In many cases, due to the lack of listening, conversations are misunderstood. Sometimes, the misunderstanding turns into disgruntlement or anger with the other party.

I cannot begin to count the number of conversations I have overheard in which one person or another has interrupted someone else. Unfortunately, the interruption can become a point of contention and disgruntlement on the part of the one being interrupted. Not only that, but it makes it difficult for the person speaking to get their point across without it being disjointed and difficult to understand.

The same can be true when we listen to God. Our listening may include reading Scripture. But do we read it to understand to interrupt it with our perspective? Our perspective may or may not be correct. We are better served to listen for God’s meaning.

Our listening may also include God speaking to us in a still small voice. He may be directing us to do something we don’t believe we can. We interrupt to dispute his calling. Yet, God does not call us to something for which he will not provide what we need to accomplish it. God will speak to us, if we are listening for him to do so.

I pray we all listen attentively to one another. I pray we choose to not interrupt one another. I pray each one of us will listen for God to speak to us and not interrupt him with our personal perspective. Listen to one another. Listen for God to speak. Follow God’s guidance. Accept God’s call to you.

1 Samuel 3:10 Now the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

Stand Strong

Do you walk a fine line? Do you attempt to balance your life between two desires? Do you attempt to spend equal time with family and your job? Do you seek to help those on the margins while maintaining your standing with your friends? How is that going for you?

Straddling the fence, walking the line, being caught in the middle is tough. It is especially tough when we desire to help those on the margins while continuing to hang out with the same friends we have had for years. It is harder if our friends believe those on the margins don’t deserve our help.

Though the disciples had seen Jesus perform many miracles and heard many of His teachings, they still had their prejudices. As Jews, they did not like Samaritans. Jesus walked along the border. Galilee on one side and Samaria on the other. No doubt the disciples looked in disgust toward Samaria. They likely did not like the idea of walking along the border.

It got worse for the disciples. They, along with Jesus, were approached by ten men. Based on the rest of the story, most if not all of them were Jews except one. That one was a Samaritan and Jesus would interact with him. The disciples would have been appalled, just as they were when Jesus interacted with the woman at the well.

Our friends may feel the same way if we interact with the homeless, sick, someone from a different culture, or whomever they consider offensive. Knowing we are faced with such potential opposition from our friends, we may decide to forgo pursuing our desire to help. It is only with the strength and courage given to us by the Holy Spirt that we can follow in Jesus’s footsteps, helping those on the margins without our friends’ support.

I pray we all choose to follow in Jesus’s footsteps. I pray we lean on the Holy Spirit for the strength and courage we need. I pray each one of us will help those on the margins in our society. Follow Jesus. Lean on the Holy Spirit. Help those on the margins. Stand strong.

Luke 17:11 On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee.

Eternal Reign

What life and death decision have you made? Think you haven’t made one? What if you made one without knowing it? What if you made one but didn’t recognize it? What if your decision not only meant life but meant you would reign alongside the King of kings?

We don’t typically think we make life and death decisions. We think those decisions are made by other people, especially the military, law enforcement, and criminals. That line of thinking is true, but only if we are thinking about our physical life on this earth.

We all, every-single-person, make a life and death decision at least once. We decide to accept God’s gift of eternal life by accepting his Son, Jesus Christ, as our Lord and Savior, or we choose eternal separation from God, also known as death. If we choose life, we also choose to be conquerors and reign with Jesus Christ forever.

We may not always be faithful, but we can count on Jesus always being faithful. We may occasionally stumble, but He does not. We may make mistakes, but He doesn’t. Our inability to follow Jesus does not impact His ability to remain true to His Word. His very nature is to be truth. His truth is not just for today but is everlasting.

The best news we can hear is that we have gained eternal life, no matter what happens to us in this life. That eternal life is perfect, amazing, beyond comprehension, and forever. Though we may not think about it often, we should remind ourselves regularly that we have something that can never be taken away from us, something that is far better than anything we can imagine, far greater than anything on this earth.

I pray we all realize we make a life and death decision. I pray we choose eternal life. I pray each one of us choose to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and know that He is always true to His Word. Life and death decision. Choose eternal life. Accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. Trust in His truth.

2 Timothy 2:11b-13

If we have died with him, we will also live with him; 

if we endure, we will also reign with him; 

if we deny him, he will also deny us; 

if we are faithless, he remains faithful— 

he cannot deny himself.

Ancestry or Gospel

What do you know about your ancestors? How far back can you trace your heritage? Can you trace it back to Europe or Africa or the Middle East? Did you know your great grandparents? Do you know where they lived? Have you traced the migration of your ancestors?

Some of us are interested in our ancestry and others are not. Some of us will spend hours going over the migration path of our ancestors and others could not care less. Regardless of whether we enjoy looking at our ancestry or not, without them we would not be here now.

Though our heritage is important in many ways, it does not have to define us. We may come from a family of poor people and achieve great things. We may have some horrible people in our ancestry tree and be good people. Though the genetics passed down to us does define us in one aspect, it doesn’t completely define us nor keep us from making the right decision.

The Jews and the early Christians speak of Jesus being the son of David. However, if you look at the lineage provided in both Matthew and Luke, both of them trace the ancestry to Joseph. Now, we all know that Joseph was not really Jesus’s father. Mary was a virgin and impregnated by the power of God (Luke 1:35). Yet, the Jews traced heritage by the husband in their patriarchal society.

When the Apostle Paul writes to young Timothy, he references Jesus as a descendant of David. But more importantly, he states that he suffers for the gospel’s sake. It is due to his spreading the news of Jesus that he has been chained by human authorities. Are we willing to be chained for the sake of the gospel? I dare say most of us are not. Yet, we should be willing to go to our death, if need be, to tell others about Jesus. Quite simply, He is that important. The eternal life of others is that important.

I pray we all credit our ancestors for our being here. I pray we understand Jesus is the Son of God. I pray each one of us is willing to put our lives on the line to spread the good news of the gospel. Know Jesus is the Son of God. Tell others about Jesus. Be willing to suffer for Jesus.

2 Timothy 2:8-9 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David—that is my gospel, for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained.

Refined Like Silver

Have you ever felt like you were being wrung through the wringer? Have you felt like you were being tested beyond your ability to withstand it? Were you able to get through it? Were there multiple occasions you felt that way? Did you think God had abandoned you?

We all go through trying times. Some of them are tougher than others. Some may be so tough that we feel like there is no way we will get through them. The truth of the matter is that we wouldn’t get through them without a little help. That help always comes from God.

I know, some of you will say, “It wasn’t God who helped me, it was my family.” Or you might say it was your friend. So, let’s ask the obvious question. Who sent that person to help? Who tied you to them in the first place? Who put them in your life? There is only one answer — God. He has created each of us and uses a variety of situations to put different people in our lives — some for a lifetime and some for a season.

God allows us to go through tough times so that we will learn to depend on him. It is when we depend on him for everything that we gain a deeper understanding of how God provides. He also allows us to go through tough times to cause us to grow. I’m reminded of the story of the silversmith and the passage that states God will refine us like silver (Zechariah 13:9). A silversmith must heat up the silver to burn off impurities. He knows when it is enough when he can see his reflection in it.

When we go through tough times, rather than complaining, we would be better served to ask God what he desires to teach us. As God reveals what he is teaching us, we should learn. The more we learn from God, the more we understand who he is. The more we understand who he is, the more we will love him. It all works to our good.

I pray we all seek to learn from God during the tough times. I pray we choose to grow, rather than stay stagnant. I pray each one of us will seek to better understand who God is and love him more. Learn from God. Choose to grow. Seek to understand God. Love God with your whole being.

Psalm 66:11-12

You brought us into the net; 

you laid burdens on our backs; 

you let people ride over our heads; 

we went through fire and through water; 

yet you have brought us out to a spacious place.

Be Observant

How observant are you? Do you notice everything happening around you? Do you notice the changes along your morning and evening commute? Do you notice the eagle soaring on your drive through the country? Have you observed and recognized the things God has done?

Being observant can keep us safe, whereas moving about in a daze can be dangerous. But being observant can mean much more than safety. It can bring us joy. It can keep us informed. It can allow us to see God working among us, seeing his mighty deeds in our midst.

Our observations are not made merely with our eyes but also with our ears. It requires us to use our minds to piece together the information. As we see God’s actions and hear of his actions, we can put the pieces together to see the larger picture of God working. Though we won’t be able to see the entire picture, we can see a much larger picture than if we go through life unobservant.

Learning to be observant takes time. We can be trained by others, such as when I was trained while in the Marine Corps. Or we can train ourselves. In some ways, it is like gathering intelligence and piecing what you gather together. The more we piece together, the clearer the picture becomes of how God is working and how much he loves us.

Let me encourage everyone to seek to be more observant. Notice the beauty of creation. Notice the change in people as they grow closer to God. Notice the blessings that God bestows on us. Recognize the miracles of God. And as we notice them, let’s add one piece to another to see a bigger picture of God at work and praise him for all he does.

I pray we all seek to be more observant. I pray we see and hear God working in our lives. I pray each one of us piece together our observations to better appreciate all that God is doing around us. Be more observant. See God working. Hear God working. Put the pieces together. Praise God for his blessings.

Psalm 66:5

Come and see what God has done: 

he is awesome in his deeds among mortals.

Community Interest

Do you like where you live? Are you happy with your local community? Do you disagree with some of the decisions made? Do you wish your community was safer, had better jobs available, or better schools? Have you put forth your desires for your community in prayer to God?

It doesn’t matter where we live, we can find something we disagree with about it. We may believe our community is not as safe as it could be. I may think more should be done to attract better jobs. We want the school system to be better. We could mention many more concerns.

So, what do we do about it? We do what God told Jeremiah to tell the Israelites. He told them to build houses, plant gardens, have children, and live their lives. But he didn’t stop there. He went on to say that they were to seek out the best for the city where they lived? Why? God said it is in the welfare of where you live that you will find your welfare.

Wow! If our community does better, we do better. Because of that principle, God says we are to pray for our community. We are to be positive contributors by working to make the community better. But we don’t work alone. When we pray, we bring God into the equation. We know that all things are possible for God. So, by bringing him into the equation, we make all things possible for our community. It’s amazing what can be accomplished when we work together and ask God to be our guide and provider.

I pray we all seek the best for our community. I pray we choose to make a positive impact on our community. I pray each one of us prays for our community and trust God to provide. Seek the best for your community. Make a positive impact. Pray for your community. Trust God in all things.

Jeremiah 29:7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

Who We Listen To

Who is your closest confidant? Is it a close friend or family member? Do they provide you with wise advice when you need it? Do you always ask the same person for advice? How often do you ask God to provide the wise advice you need?

We often have one or two people we ask advice from. They may or may not always be the right person to provide the best advice. We may be asking them to provide advice for something outside of their specialty or scope of knowledge.

Jesus tells us a parable of a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus. The rich man would not give Lazarus the scraps from his table. Both die with Lazarus going to heaven and the rich man going to hades. The rich man asks Abraham to send Lazarus with a drop of water to cool his tongue, but Lazarus cannot cross the chasm. The rich man then asks Abraham to send Lazarus to his family to warn them.

Just like Abraham told the rich man that his family would not listen to someone risen from the dead, people today do not listen to Jesus, who rose from the dead. Are we listening to Him? Do we fully trust Him? Are we asking Him for advice?

We, being professing Christians, should always be listening for God’s advice. It may come in many forms and from different sources. If we are asking God for advice, we must keep our minds and ears open to hear it. God uses a variety of people whom we come across in our lives to provide us the advice he wants to give us.

I pray we all seek God’s advice. I pray we open our minds and ears to hear God’s advice. I pray each one of us trusts Jesus to provide what we need, including guidance in accordance with His plan. Seek God’s advice. Open your minds. Open your ears. Hear God’s advice. Trust Jesus to provide the best advice.

Luke 16:31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”