How to Know God's Will - Part 2
God's Blueprints For Life
How to know God's will - Part 2
By Rhonda Jackson
Fans of the old Seinfeld series might remember that, in numerous episodes, perennial loser George Costanza pretended to be an architect. He not only repeated the lie on several occasions but also made up Vandelay Industries, a fictional business where he worked.
Amusing as the notion is (was), it’s also a good reminder of how many of us fancy ourselves architects, too; we sketch our own schemes, plot our own plans, and create road maps for our lives. And then we wonder why they crumble.
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
Our “Master Builder” – God – laid the foundation for all of creation, and His Son, Jesus Christ, built on this groundwork for our very existence. He literally promises our future. When we toil endless hours at work so we can make more money, devote our time, talent, and treasure to our children, or pore over dating apps looking for the perfect partner but leave God out the equation, we’re not just unfulfilled - we’re doomed to fail.
Fortunately, God’s blueprint for our lives isn’t hidden in the Dead Sea Scrolls or sitting behind bulletproof glass at some museum. His Word – the Holy Bible – contains everything we need to know about life’s details – and more importantly, about Christ Himself. All four of the gospels give us a glance at God’s good plan for the world and for those who inhabit it. Jesus’ sermon in Matthew 5-7 is as relevant today as when He spoke it; Colossians 3 still describes the Christian life, and the Psalms suggest prayers to us when we haven’t the energy to say them…and those are just three examples!
Too many Christians consider The Bible daunting, even scary; perhaps outdated, or irrelevant. Nothing more than rules and don’ts, thees and thou-shalt-nots. But the Word of God is THE blueprint for a well-built vessel – us! – and a well-lived Christian life.
The more we learn about Jesus, the more we know His character, and the closer we get to Jesus, the more we can model Him. Rather than floundering and frustrated with our own plans, we learn to trust Him as the architect of our lives; a God whose love, mercy, grace, and compassion are the specs for our satisfaction!
As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into
practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house,
who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the
torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the
one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who
built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck
that house, it collapsed, and its destruction was complete. ~ Luke 6:47-79
Our lives will align with God’s plan when God’s Word becomes the blueprint for the life we’re building!
This post was inspired by the following message.
How to know God's will - Part 2
By Rhonda Jackson
Fans of the old Seinfeld series might remember that, in numerous episodes, perennial loser George Costanza pretended to be an architect. He not only repeated the lie on several occasions but also made up Vandelay Industries, a fictional business where he worked.
Amusing as the notion is (was), it’s also a good reminder of how many of us fancy ourselves architects, too; we sketch our own schemes, plot our own plans, and create road maps for our lives. And then we wonder why they crumble.
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
Our “Master Builder” – God – laid the foundation for all of creation, and His Son, Jesus Christ, built on this groundwork for our very existence. He literally promises our future. When we toil endless hours at work so we can make more money, devote our time, talent, and treasure to our children, or pore over dating apps looking for the perfect partner but leave God out the equation, we’re not just unfulfilled - we’re doomed to fail.
Fortunately, God’s blueprint for our lives isn’t hidden in the Dead Sea Scrolls or sitting behind bulletproof glass at some museum. His Word – the Holy Bible – contains everything we need to know about life’s details – and more importantly, about Christ Himself. All four of the gospels give us a glance at God’s good plan for the world and for those who inhabit it. Jesus’ sermon in Matthew 5-7 is as relevant today as when He spoke it; Colossians 3 still describes the Christian life, and the Psalms suggest prayers to us when we haven’t the energy to say them…and those are just three examples!
Too many Christians consider The Bible daunting, even scary; perhaps outdated, or irrelevant. Nothing more than rules and don’ts, thees and thou-shalt-nots. But the Word of God is THE blueprint for a well-built vessel – us! – and a well-lived Christian life.
The more we learn about Jesus, the more we know His character, and the closer we get to Jesus, the more we can model Him. Rather than floundering and frustrated with our own plans, we learn to trust Him as the architect of our lives; a God whose love, mercy, grace, and compassion are the specs for our satisfaction!
As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into
practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house,
who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the
torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the
one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who
built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck
that house, it collapsed, and its destruction was complete. ~ Luke 6:47-79
Our lives will align with God’s plan when God’s Word becomes the blueprint for the life we’re building!
This post was inspired by the following message.
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