Category Archives: God’s Plan

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January 18, 2024

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Attitudes & Behavior, God's Plan, Obedience, Salvation: A New You, Sharing Our Faith, Spiritual Gifts

THE PARABLE OF THE PENCIL

But now, O Lord, You are our Father. We are the clay, and You are our pot maker. All of us are the work of Your hand. [Isaiah 64:8 (NLV)]

pencilWhen writing about giving God the glory and how we are but instruments of God’s grace in the world, I recalled a quote by Mother Teresa having to do with being God’s pencil. Wanting to quote it correctly, I Googled it. Along with the quote, I came across several versions of a parable about a pencil. Of unknown origin, it has been around for more than twenty years. Nevertheless, the parable was new to me and this is my version of “The Parable of the Pencil.”

Just before putting the pencil in its box, the Pencil Maker said there were several things it needed to know if it were to become the instrument He created it to be. “First, don’t ever try to be a stapler, scissors, paper clip, or ruler. Always remember you are a pencil and have been created with a definite purpose—to draw a line forming shapes, letters, and words that leave a definite message.”

The Pencil Maker continued, “Although small, you can accomplish great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in someone’s hand.” Although He warned the pencil that there would be times of painful sharpening, the Maker explained that sharpening was the only way for it to become a better pencil. “Sometimes you’ll make mistakes,” he said, “but that’s to be expected so you’ve been equipped with an eraser just for such occasions.”

“Right now,” said the Pencil Maker, “your exterior is fresh and shiny and you’re quite beautiful. But, with use, your paint will chip, your wood get nicked, and you’ll grow smaller.” Explaining that the pencil’s quality wasn’t determined by its appearance, he added, “The most important part of you is the quality of the graphite on your inside.” After cautioning the pencil that, when too much pressure was applied, its tip might break, he added, “Don’t worry, you can be re-sharpened.”

The Pencil Maker finished up by telling his creation, “You are to leave your mark on every surface you touch. This can be hard work and you may grow tired. But,” he added, “regardless of your condition, you are expected to keep writing. It is for this purpose that you were made.” Understanding its maker’s instructions, the pencil promised to follow them and joyfully went into the box with purpose in its heart.

Of course, we’re not pencils and God is the one who made us but, like the pencil, we’ve been created with a particular purpose, role, and calling in the world. Rather than a student, it is God’s hand that holds us. The only way to achieve the great things He’s planned for us is by surrendering to His will. Rather than a pencil sharpener, it will be problems and difficult circumstances that sharpen and shape us. Like the pencil, we will err but we, too, can correct our mistakes and learn from them. Just as the pencil’s outward appearance is unimportant, so is ours. It’s what’s inside that counts! Rather than graphite, God cares about the quality of our hearts! While undue stress and strain can damage (and almost break) us, that only occurs when we step out of God’s will. Finally, like a pencil, we are to leave our mark on every situation and person with whom we interact. When we stay in God’s will and allow His hand to direct and move us, that mark will be His!

God used Mother Teresa to make His mark on the world and her life spoke volumes about God’s love. Like her, we’ve been given a purpose by our Maker—let us be the pencil in His hand and make that mark!

I am like a little pencil in his hand. That is all. He does the thinking. He does the writing. The pencil has nothing to do with it. The pencil has only to be allowed to be used. [Mother Teresa of Kolkata]

Do not give any part of your body for sinful use. Instead, give yourself to God as a living person who has been raised from the dead. Give every part of your body to God to do what is right. [Romans 6:13 (NL)]

May God give you every good thing you need so you can do what He wants. May He do in us what pleases Him through Jesus Christ. May Christ have all the shining-greatness forever! Let it be so. [Hebrews 13:21 (NLV)]

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January 4, 2024

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Attitudes & Behavior, Challenges & Difficulty, Faith & Hope, God's Plan, Patience & Perseverance, Today: Make it Count

PLODDING

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. [Psalm 51:1 (KJV)]

snailI suspect we would prefer a eulogy that shines a light on our victories and accomplishments but the man known as “the father of modern missions” chose otherwise. When William Carey [1762-1834] was asked what text he wanted for his funeral sermon, he chose today’s verse. The humble man wanted to shine a light on God’s lovingkindness and great compassion rather than his personal accomplishments.

Convinced that Jesus’ words in the Great Commission were a binding command on every generation of Christ’s followers, Carey contended that 18th century Christians were as called to take the gospel to foreign lands as were the 1st century Apostles. While this may seem obvious to us today, back in 1786 the prevailing view was that God would bring the nations to Christ without human assistance. Told by some that God didn’t need (or want) his help in converting the “heathens,” others argued that distance, barbarism, dangers, supply issues, and unintelligible languages made foreign missions unfeasible. Carey, however, remained determined to spread the gospel abroad. Eventually, what became known as the Baptist Missionary Society was formed and, in 1793, William Carey and John Thomas were appointed missionaries to the East Indies.

When they arrived in colonial Calcutta, the men faced stiff opposition from the East India Company along with poverty, illness, loneliness, domestic issues, and the deaths of friends and family, but Carey never lost heart. Determined to spread the gospel, he wanted more than converts; Carey wanted to develop apostles! To that purpose, in 1818 he and his colleagues founded Serampore College in West Bengal. While the college’s primary goal was to train indigenous ministers, both believers and unbelievers from all castes were welcome. Fierce critics of the caste system, infanticide, and suttee (widows burning themselves upon their late husbands’ funeral pyres), the missionaries labored tirelessly for the welfare of all Indians. Carey’s greatest contribution to Christ was his work as a translator. A cobbler by training, this self-taught man (whose only degree was an honorary one) translated the entire Bible into six Indian languages and portions of Scripture into 29 others! Carey’s approach to missions combined evangelism with translation, education, social reform, and health care. That same holistic approach remains a model for Christian missionaries today.

William Carey served 41 years in India without a furlough but, even before his death, his name was well known and people started collecting mementos of him. Carey’s contemporary, John Newton (evangelist, abolitionist, and author of “Amazing Grace”) said of him, “I look to such a man with reverence. He is more to me than bishop or archbishop; he is an apostle.” Yet, when this man who was a legend before his time lay dying in 1834, he gave a fellow missionary these instructions: “When I am gone, say nothing about Dr. Carey. Speak about Dr. Carey’s Savior.”

Suspecting that someday his biography would be written, Carey gave his nephew this criterion for judging its correctness: “If he give me credit for being a plodder, he will describe me justly. Anything beyond this will be too much. I can plod. I can persevere in any definite pursuit. To this I owe everything.”

Indeed, Carey was a plodder—it took him seven years to get support for his mission and another seven years passed before he baptized his first convert! Nevertheless, he never lost faith in God’s call to him. Twelve years after establishing the Mission Press in Serampore, the print shop and office burnt to the ground. Type sets for fourteen different languages, vast quantities of paper, dictionaries, and Carey’s entire library along with his completed Sanskrit dictionary, part of his Bengal dictionary, two grammar books, and ten translations of the Bible were destroyed. Even that setback did not deter the plodder. “The loss is heavy” he said, “but as traveling a road the second time is usually done with greater ease than the first time, I trust the work will lose nothing of real value. We are not discouraged…. We are cast down but not in despair.” Indeed, within a few months, the resilient man set up shop and started over again!

A plodder, Carey converted one soul at a time, learned new languages one word at a time, translated the Bible one verse at a time, paid the bills one rupee at a time, and walked the road God set before him one step at a time. God doesn’t call us to be fast; He calls us to be faithful! As Charles Spurgeon said, “By perseverance the snail reached the ark.” Can we do any less?

When reading about William Carey, I couldn’t help but wonder at how easily we allow disappointment, disillusionment, and setbacks to intimidate, dishearten, and overwhelm us in our daily walk as believers. But, for William Carey, it never was about him—it always was about Jesus! He kept his eyes on Christ as he plodded along; let us do the same.

I feel it my duty to plod on while daylight last. [William Carey]

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. [1 Corinthians 14:58 (KJV)]

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. [Galatians 6:9 (KJV)]

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December 28, 2023

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Attitudes & Behavior, Bible Stories, Fear & Doubt, God's Plan, God's Promises, Patience & Perseverance

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. [2 Peter 3:8 (NLT)]

Along the road to the Serengeti, somewhere near the Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania, is a crescent-shaped sand dune. Measuring about 30-feet in height and 328-feet long along its curves, it is known as the Shifting Sands. Rich in iron and highly magnetized, the sand sticks to itself when tossed in the air. When the wind blows, its particles fall back on the dune rather than get carried away by the breeze. The dune, however, is constantly on the move as the prevailing winds slowly move the entire thing across the land. Moving about 50-feet a year, it’s believed that the Shifting Sands have been traveling the savannah for more than three thousand years, sometimes changing both shape and direction. Of course, the dune moves so gradually that you don’t see its motion. Nevertheless, stakes in the ground indicate its location in previous years.

Like the Shifting Sands, God often appears to be standing still. David was anointed king as a boy but he didn’t rule over all of Israel until he was 37 years old. After being promised a son, Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years before Isaac’s birth. It was 22 years between Joseph’s prophetic dream that his brothers would bow to him and the day they did! Think of the centuries that passed between God’s promise of Canaan to Abraham’s descendants and Israel’s arrival there. By the time Jesus was born, thousands of years had passed since God’s first promise of a Savior in Genesis 3, one thousand had passed since God’s promise in 2 Samuel that David’s line would continue eternally, and about 700 years had elapsed since the many Messianic prophecies found in Isaiah, Hosea, and Micah! God wasn’t quick but He made good on His promises—God always does!

God moves at His own pace—and it often seems undetectable at the time. Just because we don’t see Him move, however, doesn’t mean He’s standing idly by, forgotten His promises, or ignoring His children. God works in the unseen and just because we can’t see His hand at work doesn’t mean it isn’t happening! I never saw the Shifting Sands move and yet I know they moved 1½ to 3 inches the day I was there!

Like Tanzania’s moving dune, more is happening in God’s realm than meets our mortal eyes. As Christians, we must “live by believing and not by seeing,” and “walk by faith, not by sight.” [2 Corinthians 5:7] We live by believing in God’s promises—rather than what we think we see (or don’t see) in our world! God often seems incredibly slow but His time is not the same as ours and His perspective is far broader than ours! More is happening than meets the eye! God’s promises never fail and He always is right on time!

Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. [Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)]

So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. [2 Corinthians 4:18 (NLT)]

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December 25, 2023

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Bible Stories, God's Grace & Love, God's Plan, God's Promises, Holidays & Holy Days, Thanks & Praise

INCARNATION DAY

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. [John 1:14 (ESV)]

The Almighty appeared on earth as a helpless human baby, needing to be fed and changed and taught to talk like any other child. The more you think about it, the more staggering it gets. Nothing in fiction is so fantastic as this truth of the Incarnation. [J.I. Packer]

During the children’s Christmas program at our northern church, the tots would sing “Happy Birthday, Jesus!” by the manger and then return to their room to enjoy birthday cake. Like them, most people would say that Christmas commemorates the birthday of Jesus but that’s not quite correct. Jesus doesn’t really have a birthday! He was God and, as God, He always was, always is, and forever will be. Although Mary gave birth, “incarnation” is the more accurate term for what began in Nazareth nine months earlier and culminated in Bethlehem. Coming from the Latin incarnare, meaning “to make flesh,” the word “incarnation” embodies the meaning of John 1:14: “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” Put simply, when Jesus came into the world, God the Son took on a human body and a human life like ours. The One who was there before the stars were hung in the sky, the One who was spirit and without physical body, came to earth clothed in human flesh.

When Jesus became incarnate, His nature changed but His position didn’t. He still was fully God and we see His “Godness” in His actions and words. He fulfilled over 350 Messianic prophecies—something no mere mortal could do. He was born of a virgin, had the authority to forgive, knew the future, stilled storms, healed miraculously, brought the dead back to life, and knew what was in people’s hearts. Jesus walked on water, cast out demons, and demons recognized Him. He accepted people’s worship (which would have been blasphemous were He not God) and He resurrected from the dead! Jesus claimed He fulfilled prophecies and existed before Abraham and said, “I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” [John 14:11] Indeed, Jesus was Immanuel—God with us!

Although Jesus was fully divine, at the same time, He also was fully human. He may have been conceived miraculously, but He developed in a woman’s womb like any other human baby. When Jesus entered the world through a birth canal, He took His first breath into his human lungs and cried like a baby. He grew into manhood the same way every other boy does—with skinned knees and bruises. Looking like any other Galilean of His day, Scripture tells us that Jesus ate, walked, spoke, read, listened, learned, and even paid His taxes. He wore clothing, went to the Temple, prayed, perspired, and bled. He grew thirsty and drank, grew tired and slept, was vulnerable to physical harm, experienced temptation, and could both touch and be touched. He experienced betrayal and abandonment and expressed human emotions like anger, joy, curiosity, sorrow, and disappointment. Even though He was fully God, Jesus chose to suffer as a man and die a mortal man’s physical death.

When Jesus became incarnate, He willingly gave up the majesty, glory, and divine attributes of God (apart from the direction of God the Father) to take on the limitations and pains of human life. He laid aside his “Godness” to live as a man with all the pain, discomfort, weakness, bodily functions, and limitations that accompany our bodies! Even though He wasn’t “born,” He was human in every way but one. Unlike every person since Adam and Eve, in spite of being tempted, Jesus managed to live a sinless life. He lived the life we should live (but can’t) and died the death we all deserve (but won’t receive). That’s what Christmas is all about!

Let us all celebrate the glorious day “the word became flesh” all year long!

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. [John 1:9-13 (ESV)]

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December 21, 2023

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Bible Stories, God's Plan, God's Promises, Holidays & Holy Days, Thanks & Praise

UNEXPECTED

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. [Isaiah 9:6 (NLT)]

Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart. [Charles Wesley]

I imagine the shepherds probably were more concerned with making it through the night warm, safe, and without losing any sheep than they were with the eventual arrival of the promised Messiah. They certainly never expected an angel to appear to announce His birth nor did they anticipate a host of angels singing God’s praises. Nevertheless, it was shepherds who received the good news that a child was born—a child who would be their Savior, Messiah, and Lord.

Shouldn’t this news have been given to the wealthy, powerful, or religious rather than a group of shepherds in a field?  Shepherds, especially those charged with the night watch, were among the lowest of the low. Considered disreputable, rough, dirty, ritually  unclean, and possibly dangerous, it hardly seems logical that outcast shepherds were the first ones to get Jesus’ birth announcement!

Then again, everything about the Christmas story is contrary to expectations. In fact, the Christmas story doesn’t even begin with Jesus; it begins with an angel, an old priest named Zechariah, his barren wife Elizabeth, a miraculous pregnancy, and a prophecy. When it finally gets to Jesus, we find an angel visiting the Galilean village of Nazareth, a place so insignificant that it’s not even mentioned in the Old Testament, Talmud, or even the historic writings of Josephus! It was hardly the hometown of a king! One would expect God to select a royal princess as the mother of His only Son instead of a young peasant girl. As a virgin, Mary certainly never expected a pregnancy before marriage nor did her fiancé Joseph.

Although Micah prophesied that the promised Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem only because of a census. When Mary’s time came, she gave birth to God’s Son in a borrowed stable, farm animals served as midwives, and the Prince of Peace lay in a feed trough instead of a splendid crib. Rather than royal courtiers, the King of Kings was surrounded by lowly shepherds and, instead of extravagant robes, the Lion of Judah was wrapped in rags. Other than the shepherds, it seems that the only people who took notice of Christ’s arrival were pagan astrologers from the East. Then, once the child’s presence became known to Herod, He was hunted instead of welcomed and His family fled in terror to Egypt! None of this fits the way we’d expect a Messiah’s story to go if we were writing it. Fortunately, we weren’t!

Yes, Messiah had been long expected but He came in a most unexpected way! None of this seems to makes sense until we understand that God didn’t come for the rich and mighty; He came for the poor and the lowly. He came for shepherds and lepers and the crippled, hungry, and poor. He came for the woman with the blood disorder, blind Bartimaeus, the woman caught in adultery, the Samaritan woman at the well, Mary Magdalene, and the Gentile demoniac in the Gerasenes. He came for tax-collectors like Zacchaeus and Matthew/Levi, zealots like Simon, and fishermen like Peter, John, James, and Andrew.  He came for the thief on the cross, the widow of Nain, Jarius and his daughter, the Syrophoenician woman and her daughter, and the Roman centurion. He even came for Pharisees like Nicodemus and rich council members like Joseph of Arimathea. Jesus came for people like you and me—the  ordinary, flawed, and sinful beings that we are.

The people of Judah expected a conquering king who would overthrow the Romans but what the world got was a King who overthrew Satan and conquered sin and death!

God never just meets our expectations; He surpasses them as only God can do! Thank you, God!

Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne. [Charles Wesley]

His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen! [Isaiah 9:7 (NLT)]

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December 18, 2023

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Attitudes & Behavior, Bible Stories, Church & Worship, Faith & Hope, God's Plan, God's Promises, Holidays & Holy Days, Patience & Perseverance, Today: Make it Count, Trusting God

OH COME, IMMANUEL (5) – THE SECOND ADVENT

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says, “The day of judgment is coming, burning like a furnace. On that day the arrogant and the wicked will be burned up like straw. They will be consumed—roots, branches, and all. But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture. On the day when I act, you will tread upon the wicked as if they were dust under your feet,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. [Malachi 4:1-3 (NLT)]

In the first Advent, Jesus came as a suffering servant in a manger. In His second Advent, Jesus will return in righteousness as the conquering King who makes all things right. His return means the final destruction of sin, injustice, hate, disease, death, decay and evil. Our God, however, is one of both mercy and judgement and Malachi’s promise of the Messiah included a warning about the coming day of judgment.

Jesus spoke of this coming judgment when He likened the division between believers and unbelievers to a shepherd who separates the sheep from the goats. True believers, however, don’t need to cower in fear at the prospect of judgment. Clothed in His righteousness, they will stand before Jesus forgiven of every single sin. As the faithful, they are the righteous sheep and destined for eternal life in the kingdom. The goats, however, are those who refuse to believe and they are destined for eternal punishment.

The early church thought Jesus would return within their lifetimes but 2,000 years have passed and He still hasn’t returned. Peter explained the delay: “A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” [2 Peter: 8-9]

Nevertheless, the day will come when Jesus returns to judge the living and the dead. He told us that we must be ready for that day. Just as a thief strikes an unsuspecting house by surprise, Jesus will catch an unbelieving world the same way. On that day, Almighty God will assess everyone according to their soul’s status and, when that happens, there will be no opportunity for last-minute repentance or bargaining.

It is in Christ’s return that we see the promises of God fully come to pass – promises to be with His people – promises that all things will be made new – promises of peace and security – promises of the full enjoyment of all that life was meant to be.

“God’s home is now among his people!” prophesied John in Revelation 21. “He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” [21:3-4]

This season of Advent is more than a time of preparation to celebrate Christmas; it is a time of preparation to focus our hearts, wills, and minds on Christ’s return—not as the end of the world—but as the beginning of the life as God intended it to be lived—a time when peace and justice will prevail and there will be no death, sorrow, or tears.

2,000 years ago, the people of Judah longed for the promised Messiah and, recognizing mankind’s need for a savior, God answered their prayer with Jesus. As Christians in the 21st century, we long for Messiah’s return and, someday, God will make good on that promise, as well.

The question to ask ourselves during this season isn’t whether we’re ready for Christmas. The question we should be asking is whether we’re ready for that glorious day when Jesus returns.

“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!” [Acts 1:11 (NLT)]

Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. [John 14:1-3 (NLT)]

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