GPS: Rerouting (2 of 2)

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, 

"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, 

plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay 

Since we have decided to follow Jesus and have our steps rerouted from our selfish GPS to have each moment guided by our God and Creator, everything is now going to be wonderful, right? Well, that is not the promise. As with any trip, our lives will be still be filled with ups and downs. 

Let's look at the words of the above passage a little closer in order to understand all of the promises that are included in what God has in store for each of us:

• There is a plan for our lives. God created each of us with unique interests and abilities. This creation also came with a plan. "I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. Rest assured, God knows the plan.
• The plan involves prospering. "...plans to prosper you..." God intends good for those who follow Him.
• The plan doesn't include harming me. "...and not to harm you." Will we have trouble? Yes. Will we be hurt at times? Yes. Can it even be agonizing? Yes. --Much like the agony Christ felt on the cross for our sins. The point is, while plans may include suffering, the plans end in growth.
• It is a plan that gives hope. "...Plans to give you a hope..." (Hebrews 10:23, "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.")
• It gives a future. "...and a future." (John 14: 2, "My Father's house has many room; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?")

Jesus was allowed to see the plan for his own earthly life beforehand. Jesus lived knowing what was in the path ahead. Matthew 20:17-19 states, "Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, 'We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!"

One other important point about God's plan is that it is Global. God desires all of us to seek Him and surrender to Him. Let's connect with God and allow our lives to be rerouted and guided by our Creator.

Almighty God,  Thank you for the gift of Jesus Christ. I surrender my life to You, Lord. Guide my days and help me to seek to know You better each day of my life. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

 GPS: Rerouting (1 of 2)

We seem to have rewritten the words to a popular verse of Scripture. Let's call this the ME verse: "For I know the plans I have for me," declares myself, "plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me success and popularity." 

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay 

GPS has revolutionized travel. We have a destination in mind; we type in the destination, and our route appears. We can even see a display of the route. In addition to this, we can see alternatives to the routes and estimated arrival times. We can change the route based on stops we want to make or even set the route to avoid certain delays. All of this in order for our travel to happen as quickly and easily as possible.

What if life worked this way? We wake up and "program" our day. We avoid difficulties; we make it the easiest possible route. Sounds great, right?

With that mindset, we are actually missing the big picture. We are not seeing the point of our GPS (Global Positioning System), the key word here is GLOBAL. We would most likely program the system to our own benefit and gain, with little regard for the big (global) picture.

God  alone sees the big picture. God is the one who needs to program our days. God even reassures us about His programming in the following words from the Bible:

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

We aren't always content with these words. We want our way. We want our plans on our own timeline. 

We seem to have rewritten the words to that scripture. Let's call this the ME verse: "For I know the plans I have for me," declares myself, "plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me success and popularity." 

Ouch! Pretty convicting, right? How am I helping to further the kingdom of God on a daily basis if the path that I have mapped out for myself each day is set on me?

Folks, it is time we do some serious rerouting. Let us trust the words of Jeremiah 29:11 and turn the GPS over to the one who created us. 

Almighty God, thank You for creating me and promising to guide me through the route You have planned for my life. Forgive me for taking over control of my days. I surrender control back to You, Lord. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

 Who is Whosoever?

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, 
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." 
~ John 3:16 KJV

Image by Baggeb from Pixabay 

During the agonizing hours of Jesus' crucifixion, an important conversation occurred, and this brief dialogue reveals the truth behind who exactly is included in the whosoever from John 3:16.

Each of the gospels record that two others were crucified with Jesus, one on each side of him. Luke 23:39-43 records the following account:

"One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him [Jesus]: 'Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!'

But the other criminal rebuked him. 'Don't you fear God,' he said, 'since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.'

Then he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.'

Jesus answered him, 'Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.'"

So, Jesus declared from the cross that this criminal was included in the whosoever of John 3:16. 

Let's replay the scene to explore what this criminal did to be joining Jesus Christ in paradise that very day.

• Acknowledged God: "Don't you fear God..."
• Admit his own sin: "...for we are getting what our deeds deserve."
• Recognize Jesus as the sinless Savior: "But this man has done nothing wrong."
• Believe and have faith: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

Since Jesus was willing to extend this invitation to one of the criminals on the cross, can we try to realize that our own sins do not have to separate us from our eternal home? 

We need to recognize that we ourselves are living each day as the criminals on the cross. 

Which one will we behave like? 

Will we deny Jesus and hurl insults, or will we acknowledge, admit, recognize, believe, and have faith? 

It is time to act. It is time to make a choice...

It is time to become whosoever!

Almighty God, you are the Creator of all things. I am flawed and in need of forgiveness. Thank you for offering Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for my wrongdoings. I believe in Jesus' death and resurrection. I thank you for allowing me the promise of heaven. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Be Still 

"The Lord will fight for you; 

you need only to be still." Exodus 14:14

Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay 

When faced with a problem, many of us try to be people of action. We are doers. We go about trying to "tackle life head on." We are going to take the bull by the horns and solve that problem.

We stress. We fret. We deliberate. We strategize. By pure determination, we will solve this dilemma.

We lose sleep. We lose our tempers. We lose our peace. We lose hope.

What does God's word tell us to do?

In Psalm 46 the psalmist emphasizes the strength and might of the Lord and then concludes with this advice to us in verse 10, "He {God} says, 'Be still, and know that I am God...'"

God knows the situation. God may be using this situation to remind us that relying on God is more beneficial to our lives than relying on social media. That the quiet, calm we are truly striving for will not be found in frantic activity but rather in peaceful pondering and prayer. 

"Do you not know? Have you not heard?

The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. 

He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

He give strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles; 

they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Isaiah 40:28-31

Let us not let our problems consume us; let us find peace and comfort in our Lord God who will fight for us and allow us some much needed time to just be still.