Plan Put Into Action

Plan Put Into Action

Hebrews 1: In the past God spoke to our ancestors many times and in many ways through the prophets, ² but in these last days he has spoken to us through his Son. He is the one through whom God created the universe, the one whom God has chosen to possess all things at the end. ³ He reflects the brightness of God's glory and is the exact likeness of God's own being, sustaining the universe with his powerful word. After achieving forgiveness for the sins of all human beings, he sat down in heaven at the right side of God, the Supreme Power.

 

============

 

Wanting a merit badge, I sought out places to plant seeds. I cleared away overgrown weeds, removed trash and found areas of dirt that I could plant seeds. I planted tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. After all the hard work, I just needed to sit back and watch everything grow.

 

• I finished the hard work and now I had to wait.
• I still had work to do, but it was minimal.
• I was excited when the fruit of my labor grew and I watched as the harvest got ready.

 

Paul is the assumed writer of this letter, though it varies from his usual style of mentioning his name. The letter goes right into the detail of JESUS being GOD and how HE achieved forgiveness for the sins of all human beings. After doing so, HE sat down.

 

My Observations

• JESUS was chosen to possess all things at the end of time.
• JESUS reflects the brightness of GOD’s glory that no darkness can remain.
• JESUS achieved forgiveness that I could not grant myself.

 

Sitting and waiting for something to happen can be hard at times. I mean, when I have done the hard work, I want to do more for some reason. In the case of my garden, there were times when I wanted the plants to grow faster, so I overwatered them, causing them to die.

 

GOD planted the seed of belief and sent the right people to provide me with words of encouragement. HE also sent people to me to provide just what I needed, when I needed it. HE sits because HE has already done the hard work. HE knows the wonderful plan HE has for my life and cannot wait for the fruit to bear out of my life.  I am so grateful JESUS cared for me to do the hard work.

 

Challenge

• How does the writer say GOD communicates with HIS people?
• Have you ever wondered what your purpose in life is?
• Will you consider that JESUS has already done the hard work for your life and is sitting down to watch you grow into HIS wonderful fruit HE planted in your heart?

Need for Seed

Need for Seed

2 Corinthians 9: ⁶ Remember that the person who plants few seeds will have a small crop; the one who plants many seeds will have a large crop. ⁷ You should each give, then, as you have decided, not with regret or out of a sense of duty; for God loves the one who gives gladly. ⁸ And God is able to give you more than you need, so that you will always have all you need for yourselves and more than enough for every good cause. ⁹ As the scripture says,

 

“He gives generously to the needy;
    his kindness lasts forever.”

 

============

 

Both of my grandmothers were not the best cooks, but were always willing to give me food in their house where I borrowed a bed for the time I was there. They weren’t rich, in fact, quite the opposite. But they gave GOD to me in generous doses.

 

• I complained about their food.
• I complained about their bug laced homes and horrible water and discomfort.
• I complained about their constant mentions of JESUS.

 

Paul speaks about a different currency, namely “seed.” This is GOD’s currency and HE is the benefactor who supplies HIS seed. Paul suggests that everyone who takes GOD’s currency and spreads it around generously will grow a large crop.

 

My Observations

• There is a huge need for GOD’s seed and HE wants me to provide it.
• Everyone may not have money but GOD gives them and me, seeds to plant in other’s hearts.
• Seeds and bread seem to be highly important to GOD.

 

When I am greedy, I only see “giving” as a transfer of “my” money to an organization. I mean, I look at my bank account as a measure of how “generous” I can be. I then hear messages about “faith” being based on money amounts given. BUT GOD sees currency differently.

 

HE sends comforters to crying people, joyful to the hurt, peaceful to the angry, loving to the lonely, patient to the impetuous, good to the bad, gentle to the rough, self-controlled to the wild, faithful to those who give up easily and lastly, kind to the unkind. GOD sees and appreciates HIS seeds planted; and grows a rich harvest. I am glad HE provides the right seeds at the right time.

 

Challenge

• What do you think the writer means about a “small” and “large” crop?
• If you had no money, what can you give generously to someone?
• Will you use your GOD given gifts to spread the Good News about JESUS in a way that only you can deliver it so HIS kingdom will grow a large, rich harvest?

The Action IS the Destination

The Action IS the Destination

⁵ After all, who is Apollos? And who is Paul? We are simply God's servants, by whom you were led to believe. Each one of us does the work which the Lord gave him to do: ⁶ I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plant, but it was God who made the plant grow. ⁷ The one who plants and the one who waters really do not matter. It is God who matters, because he makes the plant grow. ⁸ There is no difference between the one who plants and the one who waters; God will reward each one according to the work each has done. ⁹ For we are partners working together for God, and you are God's field.

 

============

 

When I fell into trouble, I turned to GOD. I figured HE was mad at me for the sins I committed that week or possibly the night before. With an empty bank account and a broken down car, I had nowhere else to turn. “Maybe if I turn to GOD, HE will get these credit collection agencies off my back” I thought to myself.

 

• There have been many times I thought serving GOD was a means to an end.
• There have been many times when I believed I could serve and GOD would react to my service.
• There have been many times that I wondered “what good am I doing and does it make a difference?”

 

Paul tried to reconcile an argument over people following him or Apollos. He explained that both are servants of GOD and neither are more important than the other. The work they do is what matters to GOD and HE will reward people on what they do.

 

• GOD wants me to focus on “planting” HIS plants.
• GOD wants me to know that HE will provide others to water HIS plants.
• GOD wants me to see the vast field HE grows with many plants HE raised up.

 

Plant is an action and a thing. I mean I can plant a plant that plants, plants. But sometimes I want to be the one that grows the plant. That is when I run into issues. I want to control the situation so I can stop or start serving GOD when it pleases me.

 

GOD sees when I am sincere. HE knows the times I am really planting plants for HIM and HE blesses me when I am simply serving HIM because HE is GOD. HE blesses others who do their part in watering, and nurturing the plant during the growth process. I am glad to be a part in the vast field of plants GOD is growing.

 

• Are you trying to do something to get GOD to do something for you?
• Do you look at other people as being more important than you in GOD’s kingdom or vice-versa?
• Will you simply serve GOD today so HE will provide you with HIS blessings?

 

Edge of Doubt

Edge of Doubt

1 Corinthians 1: ⁴ I always give thanks to my God for you because of the grace he has given you through Christ Jesus. ⁵ For in union with Christ you have become rich in all things, including all speech and all knowledge. ⁶ The message about Christ has become so firmly established in you ⁷ that you have not failed to receive a single blessing, as you wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. ⁸ He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be faultless on the Day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ God is to be trusted, the God who called you to have fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ, our Lord.

 

============

 

After the evaluation, I felt pretty beaten up. “You are average” I was told, but this time I had worked extra hard and other people said they loved the results. “Am I not as special as some people say?” I wondered.

 

• I have wondered if something was wrong with me after working for certain people.
• I have questioned my capabilities even when others have confirmed them.
• I have doubted GOD’s love for me after working for certain people and being in certain churches.

 

Paul gives a huge word of encouragement to the people of Corinth. He expresses his gratefulness for them and lets them know the message of CHRIST has been “firmly established” in them. This is great news!

 

• GOD wants me to know that my wealth comes from knowing about JESUS.
• GOD wants me to know that HE is pleased when I speak about JESUS.
• GOD wants me to know that it is HIS power that keeps me firm in the faith, not mine.

 

Doubt can be corrosive. I mean, when people express their doubt to me, it can corrode the promises GOD made to me. BUT GOD took care of that too. HE does not make a promise HE cannot and will not keep. GOD knows me inside and out and yet, HE still called me to have fellowship with HIS SON JESUS CHRIST.

 

GOD is to be trusted, unlike those who plant the seeds of doubt. The enemy wants me to doubt GOD so I will stay confined under HIS socially accepted addictions. Instead, GOD wants me to place my full trust in HIM. I am grateful it is GOD who keeps me firm to the end and will find me faultless on the day of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.

 

• Has doubt crept into your system because of the reaction of people around you?
• Did GOD make a promise to you and it has not come to fruition yet?
• Will you rest assured that GOD is the one who will keep you firm so you do not have to be concerned about messing up or need to try harder to please HIM?

Growing

Luke 13: ¹⁸ Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? ¹⁹ It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”

============

Furious, I stormed into the grocery store. I grabbed whatever I was purchasing and went to the counter. The cashier looked at my face and did not bother to say anything but the amount owed. Silently I paid and left.

• There are times when I show my anger to many people.
• There are times when I show my disappointment to many people.
• There are times when I show my hatred, fear, lust, prejudice and greed to many people.

JESUS describes the kingdom of GOD as a mustard seed planted in a garden. This seed grew and became a large tree for which many birds nested in its branches. How does a seed parable apply to me?

• GOD says to me “Each day you plant something whether you like it or not.”
• GOD says to me “You can sow seeds for MY kingdom or sow seeds for yours every day.”
• GOD says to me “You are MY seed and I plant you where I need you, for the time I need you, and I will grow you into a large tree.”

Each and every day I have a choice to make. I can make people miserable and adversarial or I can choose to be with people and show them GOD is in control in spite of my problems. Even my absence speaks volumes and plants a seed. Once I realize GOD has placed me somewhere for HIS purpose, it makes me think differently.

Wicked people aren’t as wicked and the argument I was about to jump into doesn’t seem worth winning when I choose GOD. Showing GOD’s love is important to HIM. When I choose to do so, especially when I don’t feel like it, HE grows me beyond my belief.

• What seeds are you growing?
• Are you making many people miserable around you?
• Can you choose to have GOD grow you to a point where you are growing other people for HIS purpose on a daily basis?