Do you sometimes wonder what the plot is in your life? I mean a grand plan if you will. We think and pursue our education. Seek out special training to “get ahead” in what it is that we are earning our money in. We bubble along and then all of the sudden there is a reality check in the form of a personal or family crisis. Most people do wonder about what is going on. Do you? The Bible tells us that through our trials God is refining us. He is leading us toward His goal for us. In the midst of that situation, God is there and working. Whether it be unexpected and feeling like it is totally out of the blue or a feeling we get while the trouble is brewing and we expect the problem to come. What is your plan in that situation? Most turn to God in need, we must remember to turn to God in all things. The beauty of a sunrise, in the blueness of the sky, the laugh of a child, the smile of a person important to you. Praise and worship, acknowledging how and why God is working in your life needs to be realized. Let the awareness grow.
Amos 5:6-7, 10-15 6)”Seek the LORD that you may live, or He will break forth like a fire, O house of Joseph, and it will consume with none to quench it for Bethel, 7)For those who turn justice into wormwood and cast righteousness down to the earth.” 10)They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they abhor him who speaks with integrity. 11)Therefore because you impose heavy rent on the poor and exact a tribute of grain from them, though you have built houses of well-hewn stone, yet you will not live in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, yet you will not drink their wine. 12)For I know your transgressions are many and your sins are great, you who distress the righteous and accept bribes and turn aside the poor in the gate. 13)Therefore at such a time the prudent person keeps silent, for it is an evil time.14)Seek good and not evil, that you may live; and thus may the LORD God of hosts be with you, just as you have said! 15)Hate evil, love good, and establish justice in the gate! Perhaps the LORD God of hosts may be gracious to the remnant of Joseph. Clearly Amos is warning us here. He tells us that we will be held accountable to God even though there will be many against us. He points to the erosion to the present day law, where we are straying. It gives us pause to perhaps reevaluate how or why we are doing things the way we are.
Psalm 90:12-17 12)So teach us to number our delays, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom. 13)Do return, O LORD; how long will it be? And be sorry for your servants. 14)O satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. 15)Make us glad according to the days You have afflicted us, and the years we have seen evil. 16)Let Your work appear to Your servants and Your majesty to their children. 17) Let the favor of the LORD our God be upon us; and confirm for us the work of our hands; Yes, confirm the work of our hands. Why teach us to number our days? I think it means to realize that we are finite and we have much to do for our God. Help us to know Your work given to us dear God, that we may be blessed by this work.
Hebrews 4:12-16 12)For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13)And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. 14)Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15)For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16)Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Well put, we see the perfection of Christ, that He knows what it is like to be human, yet without the baggage that we carry in sin. He knows the temptations, the guilt that we feel. Yet He guides us lovingly to see what it is that God needs us to see and do.
Mark 10:17-31 17)As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 18)And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 19)”You know the commandments, ‘DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, DO NOT DEFRAUD, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.’” 20)And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.” 21)Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22)But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property. 23)And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” 25)”It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26)They were even more astonished and said to Him, “Then who can be saved?” 27)Looking at them, Jesus said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” 28)Peter began to say to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You.” 29)Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is on one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, 30)but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with prosecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life. 31)”But many who are first will be last, and the last, first.” This is profound news, and many of us fall into this situation. How do we apply these words to ourselves? Are there many ways to help the poor, yes. Does it mean that we all need to become missionaries and travel to share the gospel? No, God does the calling, He knows our hearts and He stirs the Holy Spirit within us to do His will.
Back to this plan of ours, are you putting God first, letting Him lead the way in your life? I pray for you, my brothers and sisters. I can not do this without you. I need your encouragement, the help of God through you. Let it be so
Through Christ, Seek God,
D.J. Schoneweis