Flexible Plans

Flexible Plans

1 Corinthians 16: ⁵ I shall come to you after I have gone through Macedonia—for I have to go through Macedonia. ⁶ I shall probably spend some time with you, perhaps the whole winter, and then you can help me to continue my trip, wherever it is I shall go next. ⁷ I want to see you more than just briefly in passing; I hope to spend quite a long time with you, if the Lord allows.

 

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

 

“Hello. How are you?” was my polite obligatory statement. I had a full day planned and had finally gotten my schedule straight in my mind. She replied “Terrible” Then she started to tell me why. The longer she talked, the more time ticked off the clock. Unfortunately, I had to say “I have to go” in the middle of her tears.

 

• I have been overscheduled on items not concerning people.
• I have spent a large amount of time on things unrelated to people.
• I have planned my days so full, that I had no time for people.

 

Paul expresses his care for those who he wrote the letter to. He also spoke about entire regions he wanted to affect with the love of JESUS. He made plans to spend time with people, but knew his life was in the LORD’s hands. His plans needed to be flexible.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to make flexible plans that include caring for HIS people.
• GOD wants me to be flexible to be led to places HE wants me to go.
• GOD wants me to seek spending time with people so I and they can be made whole.

 

Worldly success comes with a price. I mean, everyone cheers a rich person, but JESUS spoke about the rarity of the rich entering heaven. HE said “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

 

Not knowing the full criteria of the heart, I think JESUS was talking about lack of care for others. It takes a tremendous amount of time and effort to amass great wealth. This time is usually not spent giving or listening or serving. GOD wants time. The little time I spend here on Earth should have some of it focused on bringing people to HIM. I am glad people made time for me.

 

Challenge

• What do you notice about the writer’s heart?
• How can your time conflict with caring for others?
• Will you add flexibility to your schedule so you can be available to GOD’s leading today?

Make Time

Make Time

Acts 20: ¹³ We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement because he was going there on foot. ¹⁴ When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. ¹⁵ The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Chios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus. ¹⁶ Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.

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

Clearing my schedule, I started doing lots of work. Three was a huge event at work that I had to prepare for. I spent a couple of days preparing. I then went to several people to see if I got all the information right. This one day was going to be special because I made time to prepare.

• I have made time for special events.
• I have made time for special occasions.
• I have made time for special celebrations.

Paul was on a mission to make it back to Jerusalem by the day of Pentecost. Perhaps he wanted to be in the place where Peter spoke so powerfully that tongues of fire appeared. Paul reserved time to remember what JESUS did when HE sent the HOLY SPIRIT.

• GOD wants me to make time for HIM.
• GOD wants me to remember HIM often.
• GOD wants me to seek HIS face daily.

Making time for GOD is highly important. Unfortunately, there have been many times when HE has come second or third or tenth in my life. I mean, when it came to listening to someone preach or to set up a convention where tens of thousands would attend, I chose the convention.

People would say, “It’s only that one time” but the next and the next times came quickly. Soon, speaking about GOD was only a distant memory which eventually turned into a “fear of offending someone.” GOD wants me to worship HIM in spirit and truth. I am glad HE is always available to me in prayer.

• Are you too busy to spend time with GOD?
• Has GOD called you to do something but you are too busy?
• Will you make time for GOD today?

Limited Time

Limited Time

Acts 18: ²³ After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

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

After saying the procrastinator’s credo, “I’ll get around to it” I missed another important deadline. “I have got to do better.” I said to myself. I procrastinated visiting people, registering for events and doing things that would help me grow up. When a relative was on her death bed, I vowed to see her. I made it just in time to say “I love you.” I had not talked to her in years.

• I used to think I had plenty of time.
• I used to think I could fit everything into my schedule.
• I used to think I of all the wonderful things I wanted to do, but got overwhelmed or “busy” or “too broke” to do anything.

Paul spent some time in many places speaking about the great news of JESUS. He stayed in some places longer than others when people were receptive to the HOLY SPIRIT. When he was led, he moved on so he could encourage others who professed CHRIST as their LORD and Savior.

• GOD wants me to know my time on earth is finite.
• GOD wants me to understand that I have a short time to bear fruit while I am alive.
• GOD wants me to act like this day is my last, every day.

“What would you do if you knew you had two weeks to live?” someone asked. Would you continue that argument or say I love you? How about GOD? Would you remain silent or tell about the importance of JESUS’ salvation?

Every action I do is worth something to GOD. I mean, when I lie, cheat and steal, those actions are paid for by JESUS needing to die. When I love those HE sends to me or sends me to or even my enemies, GOD values the love action and saves up a reward for me. I am grateful GOD gives me time to celebrate people by giving them the gift of HIS SON.

• What do you spend your time doing?
• Are you so busy that you have no time for GOD or for loving those HE needs you to love?
• Will you take time out of your busy schedule and use words to express the love of JESUS to someone, then go back to being an example for HIM with your actions today?

Search While I Can

Amos 7: ¹¹ “The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord,
    “when I will send a famine through the land—
not a famine of food or a thirst for water,
    but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.
¹² People will stagger from sea to sea
    and wander from north to east,
searching for the word of the Lord,
    but they will not find it.

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

Nervous about “street witnessing” I went out into the neighborhood. “What will I say?”, “Who will listen?” were a couple of questions that came to mind. We came to the door of a man who showed me he was wearing a probation ankle bracelet. He did this in response to my question “Would you like to come to our church?”

Suddenly I was thrust into having to share the message of CHRIST’s salvation to a stranger. We talked for a while and he said “I believe that CHRIST died for my sins. I have a lot of ‘em.” A couple of weeks later I went to check back on him. His neighbors told me he had been shot and killed.

• Sometimes I think I have all the time in the world.
• Sometimes I think I can simply point people to church instead of opening my mouth.
• Sometimes I think GOD is taking HIS time so I do not have to act with a sense of urgency.

When I pass neighbors and strangers on my way to church, I fail to wonder if someone on my route needs to hear a special message about GOD. In fact I have worked in crowded places and talked to hundreds of people in a single day without talking about GOD. What should I be doing?

• GOD wants me to take some time out to speak about HIM.
• GOD wants me to tell people about HIS SON’s voluntary sacrifice that saved me eternally.
• GOD wants me to act with a sense of urgency on a daily basis because I may never see “that” person who I am arguing with again.

There will come a day where the earth will long for the messages of GOD. It is up to me to take the message to those who need to hear it. GOD says to me “The harvest is plenty but the laborers are few.” My mind needs to be focused on GOD as much as possible because the days are short.

• Are you nervous about speaking about GOD?
• Do you find yourself asking GOD for money, yet have not spoken about HIS SON’s gift to you?
• Will you act with a sense of urgency and speak to people about CHRIST today?