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?

 

Planted or Pit

Matthew 15: ¹² Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”

¹³ He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. ¹⁴ Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”

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

Without reading the Bible, I began to teach Sunday school. I was a corporate instructor at the time, so this could not be as hard. I picked up the lesson and began to wing it. They ate it up. This was easy!

• When I want to be noticed, I am blind and headed for the pit.
• When I think I can “wing it” with GOD, I am blind and headed for the pit.
• When I do not even believe in the words I say or teach about GOD; I am blind and headed for the pit.

I began to pick and choose what I taught in order to get rich discussion going. I stayed away from all the “boring” parts of the Bible and away from the sections that may be offensive. Soon, I was only saying what people wanted to hear. BUT GOD wanted something different.

• GOD wants me to walk with HIM instead of walking with the crowd.
• GOD wants me to believe in all of HIS word, not just the easy parts.
• GOD wants me to teach from studying HIM versus “winging it.”

Living for GOD means I do not point at myself. It means I have to say what is in the Bible, not what’s on my mind. GOD wants my eyes wide open to HIS teaching so I can lead others to HIM.

• Are you trying to steer away from some of the more difficult teaching of GOD?
• Do you teach about things people want to hear?
• Can you stop following the crowd and start teaching what GOD says to teach?
• Will you allow yourself to be planted by GOD?