Constanta Church of Christ

GOD'S PLAN FOR MY LIFE

Inca un mesaj adanc de la Charles... te pune pe ganduri si totodata pune lucrurile intr-o noua perspectiva.

   "I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do."  (John 17:4)

   That's quite a mouthful..."I have finished the work you gave me to do."  Jesus looked back on his life without disappointment or need for correction.  His life has born the scrutiny of two Millennia and Pilate's statement is still true..."I find no fault in him."

   What was the secret of this flawless life?  It's not because of his divinity...he had emptied himself of that.  The answer is found in his word..."I came not to do my own will but your will."  Jesus' biography was written in the mind of God.

   I believe God has a plan for your life and mine.  And, I believe I can build a solid case for such a faith.  First, please know that I'm not among the religious powder-puffs that talk in syrupy platitudes on TV.  My world view is as modern as this morning's newspaper.  I believe evolution is a proven fact, not a theory.  I believe the earth is very old, about 14 billion years.  I believe if all time were put into a 24 hour day, man has been around for 2 seconds.  That being said, I believe God is the Creator of all and all is moving toward his designed purpose.  His plan is encoded in the universe.  What say we more?

   Each person is unique.  None is like you, never in all eternity.  Each has his own individuality and each his own unique possibilities and mission. 

   Why do we say God plans every life?  Because He has planned everything else in the universe.  Flowers speak to us with perfume and color.  Where'd they learn such chemistry and mix of color.  Where did the lily get its dress?  Not from Solomon's wardrobe. Where did the mockingbird go to school...to learn music?  Who made the swallow's calendar that it returns to Capistrano on a single day?  Who taught the tern geography or gave it a compass to fly 18,500 miles from the Arctic to Africa?  If every star were a train, none would ever be late, not even by one second.  When David went to church, he walked into the Judean hills and took his seat.  His preacher was the heavens when it "declared the glory of God and the firmament showed His handiwork." 

   But wait!  The Bible declares King Saul a pathetic ruin.  Why?  Disobedience.  He turned his face away from God's purpose.  We do not live our lives in a fixed groove.  God is the architect, but you are the builder.

   How may I know God's plan for me?  Help, do not hinder.  Push, do not drag.  Play, do not criticize.  If work needs to be done, do it.  If a door is open, enter.  Listen to the loudest call and answer it.   

   Live like the above paragraph until you can say..."For this reason I was born and for this I came into the world."  (John 18:37)

                                                              Charles Jackson   

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GREAT FAITH or OVERCOMING OBSTACLES

    "Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.  A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him crying out. 'Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me!  My daughter is suffering...'  The disciples urged him, 'Send her away.'"  Matthew 15:21f)

   This story ends by Jesus saying, "Woman, you have great faith!  Your request is granted."  Faith is measured in two ways:  1) What it accomplishes.  2) What it overcomes.  Jesus had the second in mind when speaking of the mustard seed.  It is neither beautiful or useful.  The wonderful thing about the mustard seed is its gallant adventure into the world of life.  Its very presence is a marvel because of its unlikely beginning, in view of its size.  It is the second feature that distinguishes the faith of the woman mentioned above.   What did the woman overcome?

   Her birth was against her.  She is Canaanite, the race of people that was to be exterminated by Israel...she is part of a remnant left.  She lived in absolute hate for the name Jew.  Her people were steeped in bitterness and prejudice.  Acquaintances would despise her for making an appeal to Jesus, a Jew, for help. 

   She worshiped a heathen god and heard Jehovah's name only in tones of contempt.  Being a stranger to the Hebrew Bible, she never sang the songs of David. 

   Her knowledge of Jesus was only hearsay...and, there was not a single rumor of his healing a heathen.  Yes, he had healed others but only people among whom he lived.

   The disciples were against her...saying, "send her away."  They had come northward for a bit of rest.  She was a disturbance to their R and R. Of no small matter was, they were men and she was a woman.

   Jesus seemed to be against her.  At first, he ignores her.  When he spoke, he robbed her of hope.  Did she retire saying, "I now go away, my case is hopeless."  Then came the darkest words of all..."I don't take the bread for children and give to dogs."  Watch now!  She turns being called a dog into an argument...the household pet does catch the scraps that fall from the table. 

   Jesus is absolutely charmed and captivated by the woman's refusal to admit defeat.  He surrenders to her faith and the daughter is healed. 

   Her great faith broke every obstacle.

                                                              Charles Jackson