A Protected Plan

God has a plan for my life, your life and everyone's lives. I believe, I will always be in His family, since I accepted Christ as my personal Savior. My prayer is that I remain in His favor. I tend to be like Paul and muck things up from time to time, doing what I know I should not being doing. Thank the Lord for His mercy, forgiveness and grace!

There are times in every believer's life that hardships arrive. Jesus promises just the opposite from a bed-of-roses for those who sign-on to be disciples. It's bad enough that the believer deals with questioning his/her own faith at times. There are some instances where people will hate you to the point of desiring and possibly pursuing your death because of your faith. 

Fear not. Jesus experienced this questioning of the plan of God in the Garden of Gethsemane and before that night experienced many attempts on His life before His sacrificial mission could be completed by fearful, angry leaders of His own people that should have known better. 

The following is a snapshot of the instances in which Father God's plan for Jesus was threatened by attempts to end the life of Jesus early but failed.

Luke 4:16-30

Jesus proclaimed that He was the fulfillment of the prophecy He had read aloud to everyone at that very moment. Jesus is not only driven out of town but the mob intended to throw him off a cliff for the declaration He made. However, Luke reports "But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way."

Matthew 12:1-14 and John 5:1-18

Jesus deals with the traditions of the Pharisees, especially on the Sabbath, being favored over The Word of God in both of these accounts. In the Matthew passage, the disciples of Jesus were picking grain to eat and in response to the kind of work done on the Sabbath, Jesus showed compassion and healed a man with a shriveled hand. "But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus."

The instance in John 5:1-18 dealt with not only the Pharisees traditions of working on the Sabbath for Jesus healed a cripple man, but Jesus calling Himself equal with Father God. Again, for these things Scripture states "For this reason they tried all the more to kill him;".

John 8:48-59

Here is where Jesus comes flat out and says who He is - the I Am. This is a name of God that depicts God as having always been in existence and Jesus equates Himself with that God. It is no wonder the religious leaders of that day attempted to call His bluff, at least at first. As C.S. Lewis said and I paraphrase - Jesus was either a liar, lunatic, or Lord. However, the leaders did more than try to call his bluff, they were not only enraged at this idea, but threatened because their precious positions of power and fame could be lost. So, John records "At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds."

John 10:31-39

Again, here is another instance when Jesus equates Himself with God. Jesus tries to convince the crowd that His works are proof of the relationship between God the Father and God the Son, but the people are not hearing it and "Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp."

John 11:45-57

One might think that raising a dead man after four days of being dead would convince the Pharisees, it did not. They saw Jesus as a special kind of threat to their positions of religious "power" and "Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.

“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”

Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”

He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. So from that day on they plotted to take his life.

Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples."

Mark 11:15-18

This account records Christ's holy zeal for the house of God to be used as a place of prayer. Jesus not only quotes Isaiah 56:7 - "My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations." But in addition, Jesus pointedly tells them they are even price gouging or robbing their clients, Jesus said - "But you have made it a den of robbers." The crowd was amazed at his teaching but enter the Pharisees again and they were afraid and "began to look for a way to kill him".

Matthew 21:33-46

Using a parable and Scripture concerning the Cornerstone being rejected, Jesus tells the Pharisees the kingdom of God will be taken away from them and given to a people who will produce kingdom fruit - love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law (Gal. 5:22-23). As you can imagine, the Pharisees did not like being spoken to like this. "When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet."

Ever heard of the phrase - When it is your time to go, it is your time to go? I do not believe in chance concerning this idea. If you are a follower of Christ and living a Christ-like lifestyle as best possible then I believe God personally removes you from this world. If you are not in God's family through faith in Christ, then I believe God may or may not steer that unbeliever's exit, but He knows how that person will meet their end.

The Lord is Sovereign. This means the Lord is in control, master of everything. And He can handle everything. He is God. Since God has a plan to prosper the believer and not harm him/her, plans to give them hope and a future (Jer. 29:11), then I can rely fully on Christ's experiences, victories and His Sovereignty. 

God's successful mission through Christ proves that when God has a goal - it will be protected until completion, even when the goal is the sacrificial death of His Son in the end. But praise God, that was not the end of the story! Christ took back His life and walked out of the grave on the third day! Since God has worked in the life of Jesus this way, Christians should expect that kind of care for our lives - A Protected Plan.

His Family

What is God? According to Scripture, God is...

• spirit (Jn. 4:24)
• love (1 Jn. 4:8)
• light (1 Jn. 1:5)
• The Rock (2 Sam. 22:32; Daniel 2:34-35)
• consuming fire (Dt. 4:24)

Those are some inanimate descriptions. Some depictions of God by a title or idea or characteristic are - 

• sustainer (Heb. 1:3; Job 12:10)
• The Way, The Truth, The Life (Jn. 14:6)
• Grace and Truth (Jn. 1:14)
• Sovereign Lord (2 Sam. 7:22)
• Justice (Ps. 50:6)
• Comforter; Advocate; Helper (Jn. 14:16)
• Everlasting to Everlasting (Ps. 90:2)
• forgiving and good (Ps. 86:5)

In Zephaniah 3:17, the verse contains six depictions of God in the believer's relationship with Him - Lord, Mighty Warrior, Savior, Lover, Rejoicer and Singer. 

God as an all-knowing, all-powerful, everywhere being doesn't need anything. The point to creation and the history of creation is for God to share His wonderfulness with His creation and His creation to respect and glorify Him in return. 

First there was God. Then He created the angels because Job 38:4-8 documents them being around for the next thing God created - the physical universe. After God spoke the known universe into existence, humanity was made. And now, over the course of eons, the Holy Trinity have revealed themselves as many precious things to their believers, but the core drive by God seems that He desires a huge family. And with that desire He presents Himself as a family unit in and of itself.

The Trinity. Three in one. Father God, Christ Jesus, the Son. And the Holy Spirit. Father God had the plan to extend the family and Jesus as The Word of God, executed His Father's plan as The Creator and Savior of His own creation. The Holy Spirit is described as Comforter, Advocate and Helper which goes along with many portrayals of motherhood. God was in touch with His feminine side long before there ever was a female. 

The Trinity - the perfect family. However, God certainly wants and pursues our lives for a relationship with Him so much that The Word of God which proceeded out of Yahweh's mouth before and during creation became flesh in Christ Jesus to redeem humanity's fallen relationship. John 1:14 states it like this - 

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Now, we who believe in Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior are by faith, eternally part of God's family. Praise God! God could have been satisfied with Himself from everlasting to everlasting, but He chose us to be part of His Family.

Why Her? Why Him?

Can you imagine America seeing miracle after miracle, day after day, year after year and having a spokesman for God to declare God’s thoughts and heart? Then could you imagine the citizens of America asking the well known and well respected Christians of the country to appoint The President?

Can you imagine one of the most prominent men of God in our generation like the late Dr. Billy Graham anointing and declaring who is President of the United States of America? All this is what occurred with Samuel and the nation of Israel. God heard the request of the nation of Israel to appoint a king over them and used the prophet Samuel to anoint and declare Saul king.

Saul’s track record as King of Israel had mixed results. However, the majority of events linked with his tenure of kingship was negative, crazy at best. What is the lesson to be learned? Be careful what you request of God. The Lord warned them this was not the best petition, but the people were persistent and God granted their request to be like the other nations around them having a king.

The Scripture begins to give the reader a picture of Saul in 1 Samuel 9:2 – “as handsome a young man as could be found anywhere in Israel, and he was a head taller than anyone else.” So, we have a mental picture of Saul’s physical appeal. However, later in the next chapter we receive a glimpse at a character flaw that does not bode well for leadership or kingship for that matter.

1 Samuel 10:20-25 states that Samuel called all the tribes together and named Saul to be king, but Saul was nowhere to be found. When Samuel inquired of The Lord, The Lord answered, “He has hidden himself among the supplies.” Saul is found and presented before the people as the king and Samuel states the responsibilities, rights and duties of kingship.

However, it took a threat, God’s Holy zeal or wrathful passion and a battle to bring Saul’s kingship to completion, never-the-less – Saul officially became King of Israel in 1 Samuel 11.

There have been many leaders, kings and presidents that God has allowed to rule in history. Was it to fulfill certain prophecy like "wars and rumors of wars" concerning the end-times? Was the governorship allowed to show God's blessing? How can we discern the Lord's appointment of leaders and respect it when the leader shows ill character qualities?

All through David's life, David would not take the life of whoever was holding the office of King of Israel, no matter the status of their mind or spirit. David saw God as the planter and remover of kings and the kings themselves as hopeful, faithful executors of God's will for the country.

The timeframe was not long after David when Israel and all other nations stopped practicing this respect of God's appointment even in the face of not understanding the person's character or agenda. Nations ramped up their intentions and attempts to take matters into their own hands concerning placing leaders.

Of all the nations in the world, Israel and America in particular have forgotten that according to Scripture, God is still working out His plan. Just because humanity thinks they have acquired the reins from God to place leaders over the nations does not mean that is the truth. God's Word still stands and His Word in Daniel 2:21 states - "He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others." And in Job 12:23-25 - "He makes nations great, and destroys them; he enlarges nations, and disperses them. He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason; he makes them wander in a trackless waste. They grope in darkness with no light; he makes them stagger like drunkards."

Israel and America desperately need to return to a practice David used while King of Israel - he inquired of the Lord. If I had a dollar for every time I have heard the following charge for Christians to perform, I would be much richer.

"if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (2 Chron. 7:13-15)

However, this plea still rings true now, no matter how many times I might have heard it. The necessity of the issue is to garner all the true believers to -

1. humble themselves
2. pray
3. seek God's face
4. turn from their wicked ways
5. AND Inquire of The Lord, as David did.

I believe, when Christians do these things personally and especially corporately, the Body of Christ will experience a sense of peace and possible clear revelation for any office of the country we are praying for as we ask - Why Her? Why Him?

A Man You Would Write About

All of Scripture is ultimately about one person - Christ Jesus. The Old Testament not only alludes to Him and His first visit, but prophesied His arrival as well. The first part of the New Testament documents the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, The Messiah. While the later half of the New Testament deals with the creation of the church, the sustaining of the church and the return of Christ for His church. In this book of instruction that Christians call The Bible, Christ Jesus is viewed as the ultimate example or standard in all things.

There is a retired Christian band named 4Him that performed a song entitled "A Man You Would Write About". This song spoke about the desire and pursuit of being the type of Christ follower that people would write about favorably during and many years after the life of that person.

While Christ is the believer's forever model to follow, before Christ's arrival and after His ascension to God The Father - there were certain quality people that stood out who I believe Christians should study and emulate in addition to Jesus.

Here are some suggestions of key people in Scripture that I am looking at emulating and perhaps other believers in Christ might want to consider imitating. This is not an exhaustive list, but the additional Biblical people to mirror would be - Noah, Enoch, Joseph, David, Elijah, Elisha, Daniel and John the Baptist.  

Why these particular individuals? The relationship these people had with God was honored by others. Family, friends, the public, servants, angels and God Himself honored the holy, intimate relationship they held with The Lord by recognizing God's presence, leadership and provision in their lives. Let us study to get a glimpse of why these relationships stand out?

Noah - "But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time and he walked faithfully with God." (Genesis 6:8-9) 

Those are some awesome qualities to possess. Noah was honored by God and the community. Why?  Noah was "righteous" - in right-standing with God. He was "blameless among the people" which translated to a man of integrity and "he walked faithfully with God" which meant he was not wishy-washy with his beliefs in a world that was so wicked that God was soon to destroy it with the flood.  Righteousness, integrity and faithfulness are great ingredients for honor in the believer's life and Godly favor in the Christian's life.

Enoch - "Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more because God took him away." 

Once again faithfulness is magnified. I believe this is  important because God is faithful. One of His titles is Faithful and True found in Revelation 19:11. Notice that faithfulness is a walk, a journey, a lifestyle in a relationship with God - not an instant characteristic given as a gift, talent or skill. So, since steadfast faithfulness to God's precepts and relationship is important to Him, I believe we should walk in it always, like Enoch displayed. Who knows, perhaps one of us will be snatched up early also. 

Joseph - "The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered," (Genesis 39:2) and "The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did." (Genesis 39:23) 

The Lord can be with anybody so that they are comforted, protected, counseled - whatever the need for the Lord to fill in that person's life is. For Joseph, the Lord blessed him with a type of Midas Touch. Everything Joseph put his mind and hand to in life, the Lord prospered and/or gave him success with.

Joseph followed God's leadings, promptings, visions and dreams in his life. This cost Joseph rejection from his own family. Trust in God is a huge lesson here. Wherever Joseph went and whatever situation he found himself in, Joseph flowed from God's counsel therefore he succeeded. But that success was all built on a foundation of trust in God's constant leadership and presence in his life.

David - Samuel, speaking to Saul says prophetically about David, "But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command." (1 Samuel 13:14) In addition, when the time came for Samuel to anoint the new king, God brought Samuel to the house of Jesse. "One of the servants answered, 'I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with him.'" (1 Samuel 16:18) 

I find it interesting that of the whole household of Jesse, no one you might expect speaks up about David to put him forward as candidate for King of Israel - not David's father, nor mother, nor siblings, but a "servant". In addition, the servant saves the best characteristic for last - "And the Lord is with him." Could it be that the servant knows a servant spirit and immediately identified that in the shepherd boy, the shepherd king - David? 

A servant spirit or serving characteristic serves one well. The return on developing this trait is enormous. Not only is it the better thing to give or serve than receive but Jesus says about both - "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Luke 6:38)

Elijah - "Then Elijah said to them, 'I am the only one of the Lord’s prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets.'" (1 Kings 18:22) and "As they [Elijah and Elisha] were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind." (2 Kings 2:11)

Boldness and courageous zeal for the Lord are qualities Elijah exemplified. With no other prophet left to do the Lord's bidding, the mantle fell on Elijah and he wore it well. Even though Elijah, the mentor, had Elisha as a friend, Elisha was an apprentice and co-laborer of God and evidently not considered a full-time prophet. If you read Elijah's story you will come away with a sense of him being a man of God that took-the-bull-by-the-horns and got things done for the Lord. I believe the Lord rewarded Elijah's tenacity and no compromising of the faith and holy behavior with an early, living departure to Heaven, also known as a rapture. 

Elisha - "When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, 'Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?' 'Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,' Elisha replied." (2 Kings 2:9) 

I cannot blame Elisha's request for the double portion of that incredible blessing on his mentor's life. After seeing his mentor and friend receive an early heavenly escort out of this life, I hope I would have asked for such a blessing as well. One of the proofs of this double portion being exemplified came after Elisha's death. 

"Elisha died and was buried. Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring. Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet." (2 Kings 13:20-21)

Take-aways from Elisha's life that I observe are -passion for more of the things of God, continuation of a mentor's good work and establishing God-centered relationships.

Daniel - At the beginning of Daniel's exile to Babylonia, Daniel could be described by King Nebuchadnezzar as part of a group of - "young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace." (Daniel 1:4) 

However, the angels of Heaven compliment Daniel also. Daniel is not called just esteemed by the heavenly beings but "highly esteemed". Gabriel, the chief messenger angel of Heaven, tells Daniel this in Daniel 9:23 then another angel echoes that sentiment in 10:11 and 10:19. Why? I believe because Daniel never compromised his faith in God for anything or anyone. Sounds like a re-occurring trait that requires attention, doesn't it?

John the Baptist - Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." (Matthew 11:11) 

In this one statement, Jesus gives one of the greatest compliments to a family member ever and then sets the record straight with the word "yet". Jesus explains that He is the exception. There is someone greater than John because He or Jesus has made Himself least in the kingdom - Christ, the Servant Savior King (Philippians 2:6-11).

Cousin to Jesus, John the Baptist was the herald of Christ Jesus the Messiah. As the baptist, he was to baptize new converts into the kingdom of God. However, in addition to that duty, he fulfilled all that was required for Jesus to publicly acknowledge Father God and Father God to acknowledge Him in being baptized or emersed in water by John.

In this description of John by Jesus, Christ teaches He is not only greater than John but should be viewed as the believer's book ends, the least and the greatest in the kingdom, the servant and the master, through one of the largest compliments of a family member to ever have been made. This tells me that no matter what your station is in life, no matter your societal status or life experiences - Christ has loved us enough to experience it all and conquer it all. And that He can use us all for His glory.

Summary - According to Jesus, one of the highest compliments anybody could ever give a believer in Christ is - "I praise God for you." In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus was teaching on being light and salt to the world. Now-a-days to be salty means to be bitter, but the Word of God portrays being salty as flavorful and healthy. The last part of this passage Jesus instructs - "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matt. 5:16) 

You know the song "This Little Light Of Mine, I'm Going To Let It Shine"? I challenge all of my brothers and sisters in Christ, don't hide your light under a bushel, as the song says, or anything else, let it shine! I am going to try harder, with God's help, to remain in right-standing with God, live with integrity, trust more in God, be confident in my Godly role in life, be zealous and passionate for the things of the Lord, have a servant spirit about me, while being faithful and not compromising the faith. 

That is plenty to work on, but I have The Holy Spirit to help me along The Way. Two of the traits emphasized in my study go hand-in-hand and I purposefully listed them last. Faithfulness and No Compromise. If I am not faithful, I have compromised. If I have compromised, I have violated my faithfulness. I pray that in all things Christ-like I will be faithful and in light of those men that came before Jesus that I have mentioned - I desire to be A Man You Would Write About. 

A Life Of Convincing, A Convincing Life

I want to be persuasive in my witness for the Lord. As I actively speak, sing, write and teach about Christ Jesus my Savior and the Christian lifestyle, my prayer is that I am convincing. I hope and pray that my words, actions and lifestyle would be such a convincing influence that others would change or consider changing to the ways of Christ Jesus.

Paul is a wonderful example of the process of considering this lifestyle and where does the believer begin? Three times in the book of Romans and once in 2 Timothy, Paul uses the phrase - "I am convinced". With these words Paul communicates to himself and his audience through his senses, intellilect and emotion that all the proofs of Jesus as The Messiah are true. This truth being revealed to Paul drastically in His initial encounter with The Lord and then throughout his service unto the Lord - Paul made it his mission to not only have A Life Of Convincing, but A Convincing Life.

If the Christian is truely to live A Life of Convincing, A Convincing Life - here are a few major pillars the Christ-like lifestyle should be built upon. 

A Life of Love

In order to inspire change, one has to be that change and display it in their own life. Paul stresses the answer is an action word, a word that demands our participation, called "love". Paul says in his fist letter to the believers in Corinth - 

"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing." (1 Cor. 13:1-3)

 A Life of Integrity       

I know the Lord never leaves or forsakes His own, but I believe when Christians keep their lives on the straight and narrow, God rewards them with a special emphasis of His presence. I believe having our lives in order blesses the requests when we petition the Lord for His powerful influence. This is not to say God will not answer favorably to your prayer otherwise, but Christians presenting themselves better before The King in prayer by already having a lifestyle of integrity will help one's cause. 

A clean, honest, upstanding life that is filled with integrity and led by Christ is the kind of impact I desire to leave on this world. But the world-vision, the world-change does not come until the personal, at-home transformation happens. How can I attempt to instruct someone on pulling a speck of dust out of their eye when I have a plank of wood in mine? (Matt. 7:1-5) Get your own house, your own life in order first, then your impact on the world will be incredibly favored by God. 

A Life of Serving and Seeking

Once a person says "yes" to the invitation of Christ Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, many-a-instance has been that the transformation was so great and so greatly needed and appreciated that the life of convincing and the convincing life immediately began by witnessing. 

There are many ways to serve the Lord, therefore those ways end up being many avenues of witnessing to unbelievers. However, sometimes a personal, one-one-one, heart-to-heart conversation about one's transformation is just what The Great Physician ordered.

Within the powerful tool of personal testimony, Christ Jesus initiates The Great Commission. The believer in Christ has the honor of telling his/her salvation story and The Salvation message while seeking out a potential new brother/sister in Christ, therefore executing A Life of Serving and Seeking.

A Life Of Convincing, A Convincing Life

Personally, my life, like many, has been dotted with physical, mental and financial trials. Like many believers in Christ, I can say - But God....

I try not say that But God phrase lightly anymore. I don't want to take The Lord's provision and guidance for granted. I really desire to take up Paul's phrase - "I am convinced..." when I speak of God's blessings and promises. And lead A Life of Convincing, A Convincing Life.