分类: God's Plans - Jethro TOOLS

Living by Faith

9/7/2025

Habakkuk 1:12-2:20
As I walked toward the garden I noticed movement. Further investigation revealed several small green and yellow birds inside the netting that covered the berry plants. With a total length of about four inches they were small enough to wriggle through the mesh that kept larger birds from eating the berries. The problem is that once inside they could not figure out how to get out. Would I step into their world and release them, or would I allow them to continue to suffer? The book of Habakkuk records the on going conversation between God and the prophet Habakkuk. The author, Habakkuk, questions when God will put a stop to the sin, injustice and idolatry (1:12-17). God counters with the challenge to live by faith (2:4). Habakkuk, as one who was righteous, was to take his eyes off others and truly live a life of faith that contrasted the sin of others. He was to live this upright God honoring life because of his faith in God. When all others are being unfaithful to God Habakkuk was to live counter to his culture and display his confident belief in God. Habakkuk saw the problems of sin within his own country of Judah, but he also saw the greater sin of the coming Babylonians. This grieved him and caused him to question God. Do the conditions in our world deepen our dependence on God and commitment to Him? Like Habakkuk, God still calls us to live by faith trusting His sovereign power and plan. God is at work calling us to Himself and cleansing us to live a righteous life through faith in Him. Like the birds that were caught, we need a savior to step into our world and free us to live by faith for Him alone. God has accomplished that through Jesus. This passage reminds us that the righteous will live by faith trusting in the only sovereign savior, Jesus.

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The Disciple's Mission

1/19/2025

Matthew 4:18-22
As a boy, I had always enjoyed dogs, but never had a chance to have one. Perhaps we never had a dog because Mom and Dad had moved frequently. Eventually, when I was about ten, we settled into a home that I would consider home. Arriving home from school one fall day, I noticed a dog tied up in front of the house. It turns out that some friends needed to find a new home for their dog and my parents approved. Well, that began the process of getting to know the dog and trying to train the dog. There is an old saying, “You can’t teach old dogs new tricks.” That was definitely true of this character. He should have been a good candidate to pull a sled. He was broad and muscular, but he lacked the motivation. He would pull for a bit and only when he wanted to. When he realized I was on the sled the ride was over. I was on a mission to develop him into a sled pulling dog and he wanted nothing to do with my trick. My plans and dreams for him could never compare to his desire for his enjoyment fulfilled his way. You could say it was a training disaster. However, when it comes to reshaping our lives and retraining us God has a plan, but it takes our submission. In Matthew 4 Jesus calls Peter and Andrew to follow Him (18) and promises to make them into something different (19). Change is not easy because we become comfortable with our way. Like these disciples we are called to follow Jesus and allow Him to change us, reshape us and use us for His purposes and honor. Like my old dog; Are we willing to submit to our savior and His new direction for our life? When we do we will find that our life has an exciting new meaning and purpose.

Foe More See MATTHEW or DISCIPLESHIP

Ministry Commitment

11/3/2024

1 Timothy 6:11-16
Every garden involves work, water and weeding, and over the years I have had plenty of experience in all three areas. However, the process repeats itself year after year. That process has made me consider what the garden strategically needs to be successful in the coming year. A garden reminds me of what is recorded in 1 Timothy 6 as Paul challenges Timothy to a life of godliness and a ministry that is marked by commitment to Jesus Christ. Paul refers to Timothy as a “man of God” (11) which is the key idea for the following verses. So what does it take to be known as one who is godly? The phrase “man of God” defines Timothy as being set apart from others who hold worldly values; it describes Timothy and his dedication to God; and it directs Timothy on the course he is to continue. If Godliness is something we all should strive for, then how do we become godly? What steps do we take? Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit your works to the LORD, and your plans will be established.” Often we turn that around by seeking to do what we think is right and then asking God’s approval. Proverbs challenges us to display our faith in the LORD through an absolute reliance on Him alone. The first step is a commitment that places and releases our plans into God’s hands. Secondly, through prayer we listen and obediently respond to His answers and watch Him work to make the plans work. Just like a garden will not grow without the sun that God provides, so our lives will not flourish without following God’s direction. We can be committed to growing a garden, but we need God’s work to bring the produce. We need to be personally committed to godly growth, but we also need God’s work to bring His produce in our life.

For More See 1 TIMOTHY

Plan of Hope

2/28/2024

Ruth 3
We make all kinds of plans, don’t we? Our days, months, and years have plans. We orchestrate what we want to do and then we determine that we need to do it. We plan our week, our work and even our worship… and that becomes a problem. We live in a world that rewards achievement and wants to know the next great task to accomplish. This has become a problem that has infected the church. One might ask how? To put it simply, we desire plans and programs of a spiritual nature rather than a transformational relationship with our savior, Jesus Christ. We want to be doing something spiritual rather than being someone who is changed by Jesus. In Ruth 3 we see that kind of transformation take place in Naomi. Previously, when things became difficult she went looking for her own solutions through her own plan. Simply put, she went to another country looking for food (Ruth 1). Through the following dark times God faithfully restored Naomi back to the land so she could follow His plan. As we pick the story up in chapter 3, Naomi has a plan (1-5), she gets Ruth involved (6-13), and God brings His blessing (14-15). Now, Naomi is left with a choice. Will she push for her own solution or will she wait and trust God to work through Boaz (16-18)? James 4:13-17 challenges our practice of making plans apart from the Lord’s will. This time around, Naomi, decides to wait (18). It is through the discipline of waiting that we learn dependence on God. This is not a normal human reaction, because in the Garden of Eden Adam and Eve decided to orchestrate their life with their own plan rather than keep it personal and organic walking and talking with God (Genesis 3). Today, we face the same temptation to schedule our agenda without God. I hope that we learn the lesson from Naomi and wait for God to enact His plan.

For more see RUTH

God's Sovereign Persistence

5/21/2023

Job 2:1-6
What do you do when you need fresh produce for a meal at home? Well, the answer is one of two things. The first option is that you may start a garden or plant some fruit trees. However, the results are not instantaneous. The second option is to go to the local grocery store. Upon entering the store you walk to the fresh produce case and examine the fruit and vegetables. You will look for bruises, bad spots, and unappealing bumps. Fruit that is shipped to our local grocery store will often arrive bruised from harvest and transportation. However, regardless of the lumps, bumps, and bruises a banana is still a banana. God made our fruits and vegetables to be consistent on the outside with what is on the inside. If you cut an apple open you do not expect to find a peach. The same consistency is true in the life of Job. As we move into chapter two we again see God’s rule over Satan (1-2). He is the defeated foe as God rules in the life of Job, His servant (3). However, Satan is not done, because he desires another chance to destroy Job (4-5). Yet, God in His sovereignty, allows Satan another chance to turn Job against Him (6). The sovereign persistence of God controlled Satan and kept Job. God, in His sovereignty, acts to preserve His servant. God is persistent in bringing about His plan in Job’s life and ours. We need to trust that only God can save us. Our effort to save ourselves is futile. Our enemy, Satan, is determined. However, God is all powerful, displaying His sovereign persistence. He knows the past, present, and future. His desire is that we submit to His rule and purpose in order to display His honor and glory through us. Like fruit that is squeezed and bruised, the servant of God under pressure displays God’s greatness to sustain and preserve.

For more see JOB

God's Will & Our Guidance

4/2/2023

Isaiah 46:8-13
Palm Sunday begins the Biblical record of Jesus entering Jerusalem, with people praising Him and welcoming Him. However, by the end of the week the same people were mocking Him and seeking His death. This is known as the Passion Week. The people are passionate about a new king that is coming to save them, but they only see a political savior. The religious leaders are passionate about killing Jesus, because they only see a spiritual rival. However, Jesus is passionate about people that are lost in sin. He comes as the perfect sacrifice, because He is the only one able to save from sin. From our perspective we might wonder how God could work out His perfect plan of salvation in the midst of misconceptions and misconstrued justice. The trial that Jesus faced was unfair and unjust, yet Jesus offered His life to take our sin and its judgment on Himself. One might wonder if God really knew what was going on. God did, because in eternity past the Godhead knew that sin would corrupt the world and its people. Therefore, it was decided that Jesus would enter the world to provide the payment for sin once and for all. Only God was pure enough to pay for sin, but God is eternal and cannot die. This required that God become man, in order that through the perfect life and death of Jesus we might have new life in Him. That is God’s will ruling the events of time to make His ultimate plan for salvation a reality. Isaiah 46:10 says, “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.” To know God’s sovereign will for our life we must submit to Jesus and His rule in our life. Have you done that? Are you doing that?

For more see ISAIAH or DISCIPLESHIP

God's Plans - present pain future hope

11/13/2022

Jeremiah 29:1-14
Have you ever had surgery? Some time ago I had to face the reality that cancer and its corruption was growing inside me. The best option was surgery to remove the cancer. In the process of preparation for surgery I asked my doctor many questions. I had to trust him completely for the surgery to remove the cancer and for the outcome that I could not see after surgery. My doctor gave me hope that even though this would be a long process of recovery, I would be better in the end. Like you, I did not like the pain of surgery, but the pain had a purpose of bringing about the restoration of my health. I had a compassionate doctor who sought the best plan for my life. Likewise, the prophet Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet because of his continued compassion for his audience. He wrote a letter to his nation, exiled in a foreign land, to give them hope in God. In his book, Jeremiah records how the people have placed their trust in other things rather than God. This led the people to be discouraged as they were in exile. Jeremiah communicates God’s message that there is hope beyond the pain if they trust in Him. For us today the message is the same. Like the people of Jeremiah’s day we are easily led astray and place our trust any where else but in God. Misplaced trust in unreliable and powerless sources will lead to discouragement. However, hope is found by trusting in God who is all powerful. Through the pain of life God is working out His purpose in our life. At times, pain may be God’s design for our correction and redirection, but ultimately it is for our connection with Him. God will use pain for the purpose of drawing us to Him. God’s desire is to give hope in His future.

For more see JEREMIAH or MISAPPLIED SCRIPTURE VERSES

Submission of Life

9/25/2022

James 4:11-17
The cool morning air caused me to grab a jacket on the way out the door. During my normal morning trail walk with the dog I met one of the regular walkers who smiled and said, “I did not recognize you, but I recognized your dog.” We shared a good laugh and then continued on our separate ways. As I walked away I began to think about what had just been said. As a believer in Jesus Christ, God wants my life to be so in tune with Him and submissively under His control that others see Him first. My conversation reminded me to be submissive to God in all areas of my life so others will see Jesus first before they see me. In the closing part of James chapter four, we are reminded to submit our life to God in two areas that we struggle with even today. The first area is our speech and specifically judging others (11-12). When we judge we demand that others conform to our imperfect standard rather than God’s. In doing so we elevate our selves to be more important than others. However, a life of faith willingly submits to God’s view that we are all sinners in need of God’s perfect correction through His perfect grace. Secondly, James addresses the worldly issue of self sufficiency that seeks to be in control of life (13-16). James helps us see that a life of faith will humbly submit to God who knows all and His perfect plans. Living by what God has made clear is a life submitted to Him and His authority (17). James reminds us that a submissive life lives by faith by trusting God’s authority in what is right in the present and His plans for our future. When others look at us who do they see? Do they see Jesus first?

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Do You Know?

5/22/2022

Job 38-41
Did you know that about 50 percent of people fail their first driving test? A driving test is given to examine what we know and how we can apply it to various situations. It is easy to spout off answers that we assume to be correct, but do they do not work in driving situations. Gaining the head knowledge is important, but equally important is the application of those truths to life. You may be one of those people that failed the drivers test the first time and dreaded going back to retake it. Many people do not do well on tests for various reasons. Imagine if you were Job and God told you to answer His questions. That is the exact situation that is played out in Job 38:4. God begins the exam by asking Job what he knows about creation in chapters 38-39. There is a pause in the test as God gives Job a chance to respond. Job wisely has no answer (40:1-5). God then continues with a second exam that asks Job about God’s power as displayed in the animal kingdom in chapters 40-41. Job could not explain God’s working in his personal life because he did not understand God’s knowledge or power. Creation is a clear display of God’s sovereignty and knowledge. Through the tests God desired that Job see His knowledge and trust His moral purposes worked out in life. Like Job, we need to trust God and allow Him to work out His plan and purpose in our life. Suffering is not necessarily about what is wrong with our life and what God must do for us. Suffering instead teaches us to trust God and His character and not to demand His blessing. The lesson from Job is simple, we can trust God’s knowledge and power because it is based on His trustworthy character.

For more see QUESTIONS FROM GOD

Why Are You Persecuting Me?

5/8/2022

Acts 9:1-9
Years ago one of my elderly uncles caught a raccoon. I do not recall all of the details, but as you know raccoons can be a bit of a bit of a nuisance getting into garbage cans and even into your house. Knowing my uncle, this was probably the case with this troublesome critter. Rather than moving the animal from his farm he decided to make the animal his pet. To make a long story short he succeeded. The raccoon would eat from my uncle’s hand. However, if anyone else walked up the raccoon would snarl and hiss aggressively. My uncle had taught the raccoon to submit and to trust him alone and not fight him. In the same way, Acts chapter 9 records Saul submitting to Jesus Christ. Saul was a bitter enemy of the church (1) who sought the imprisonment of as many as possible (2). However, human power is no match for God’s power and God caused Saul to lose his eyesight (8). Immediately Saul realized that persecution of the church is actually persecution of Christ. Jesus asked him the question in verse 4, “Why are you persecuting me?” That question is important because it points to the reasons and beliefs behind the actions. Saul became a changed man after Jesus confronted him with the truth of his actions. He no longer sought to save himself and what he thought to be religiously correct. Instead he began preaching that Jesus is the Son of God (20). Saul’s spiritual transformation began with the submission of his will and his way to God’s will and God’s way. His action, vision, perspective, and speech all changed. Like Saul, God may use any number of things in any number of ways to get our attention and submission. God may need to break us before He can use us. Today God still asks, "Why are you doing this which is against me?"

For more see QUESTIONS FROM GOD

God's Victory

11/7/2021

Exodus 14:23-31
The movie Ford v Ferrari, that was released in 2019, tells a story from 1966 of the 24 Hours of LeMans. This is an endurance car race that takes place for 24 hours in the French city of LeMans each year. For years Italian automaker Ferrari, had dominated this racing circuit. However, in the 1960’s US automakers began to respond to the demand for faster and sportier cars. They believed that winning car races was one way to prove to the buying public that their car brand was faster. Ford Motor Company set out to do just that in the 24 Hours of LeMans. To make a long story short Ford built a car that accomplished their goal and Ferrari was soundly defeated at Lemans. In much the same way God displayed His authority and completely destroyed the Egyptian army in Exodus 14. Pharaoh’s army persisted in pursuing Moses and the Israelites (23-25), but God caused confusion and chaos and their final calamity. God displayed His power over nature by holding the water in place for the Israelites and then caused it to return to its place covering the Egyptian army (26-28). God delivered His people (29-31). Israel saw the soldiers that they once feared now lifeless and they believed God (31). The lessons for us today are clear. God will not allow any power to thwart His purpose or destroy His plan. He will use any means necessary to display His greatness and gain His victory. God’s goal is to display His power to gain His honor and our commitment to follow Him alone. Do we really believe that He alone is the all powerful God? Let us believe God always and live by faith as we follow Him each day.

For more see FEAR, FAITH & FOLLOWING

Pass on the Faith

10/2/2021

Exodus 13:1-16
Have you ever looked out over the edge of a building or been on some other high elevated place and felt that shiver of a chill go up your spine? One misstep and you are over the edge falling out of control. The Wallenda family has lived with the thrills of exhilarating heights and chilling fears of a misstep. Karl Wallenda was the founding member of the Flying Wallendas, an aerial tightrope walking group that performed high wire circus acts. Unfortunately he fell to his death in 1978 while performing in PuertoRico. His great grandson Nikolas (Nik) Wallenda is one of the family members continuing the legacy of aerial high wire walking. Even more important, Nikolas Wallenda accepted Jesus as his savior. That is a legacy of faith being passed on. In Exodus 13 we see God lay out the importance of passing on one’s faith to others. In these verses God defines what He wants from the people of Israel. First, they were to be distinct (1-2). Every firstborn animal or human was to be dedicated to God. They were given directions to help them remember God’s work and build their faith (3-7). Third, through a yearly ceremony, they were to tell their children how great God is (8-10). This would lead others to see the dedication of their faith (11-13) and their loyal loving devotion to following God in faith (14-16). Today, God still calls us to remember Him, follow Him, and pass on our faith in Him. We need to trust God and not allow our fears to keep us from following His plans for our lives. God provides the spiritual stability in a physically unstable world. When we pass on our faith we state that God is the source of our strength and stability when life moves like an aerial wire.

For more see FEAR, FAITH & FOLLOWING

Following God's Plan

9/19/2021

Exodus 11
The 2004 sports film titled Miracle reenacts the journey of the 1980 American Olympic Hockey team and their quest to win Olympic gold. The pivotal moment in this movie comes after a lackluster performance in an exhibition game against Norway. Even though they tied the Norwegian team the coach, Herb Brooks, made them stay and skate long after the ice arena shut down for the night. Herb Brooks continually instructs that they skate the on ice drill one more time. Finally, the exhausted team captain hollers his name and states that he plays for the United States. That moment ended the drill and solidified the team as they now understood that they played for one team and for one purpose. In Exodus 11 God now says that He will act one more time “so that My wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 11:9). Previously, God had sent 9 plagues with increasing levels of intensity yet Pharaoh refused to submit. One would think that by this time Egypt and Israel would have learned the power of God. However, God was working to multiply how the Egyptians and Israelites viewed His greatness. He wanted His people to know that He alone was the sovereign God above all who deserves their complete submission and loyal following. God displayed His power multiple times through the plagues in order to build faith in Him alone. Today, just like Moses, we may be impatiently waiting for God to finish what He is doing. We want God to deliver but we have not seen it. When we find ourselves in that situation we need not fear because God is at work. We need faith to see that God is at work and we need to follow His plans that always work.

For more see FEAR, FAITH & FOLLOWING

Follow God's Lead

9/5/2021

Exodus 7:1-13
Some of you may groan, while some of you will shout with joy. Why? Well, in a couple of months we will see our first snow. The arrival of snow brings various winter activities including hockey. In the game of hockey the opposing teams try to score on the opposite goal. When some of the rules of play are broken a penalty is assessed. The player charged with the penalty is removed from playing for at least two minutes while his team must play shorthanded. That is called a power play. With this advantage the stronger team presses to score a goal over the weaker team. In much the same way we see a power play take place in Exodus 7:1-13, except Pharaoh incorrectly believes that he has the advantage. God makes His plan of action very clear to Moses (1-4) and outlines His purpose (5). God states what He will do and that the goal is for the Egyptians to know that He is the LORD. God directs Moses with His ability and works by His power (8-13) to display His strength to Pharaoh. For us today we must follow God’s leading. Like Moses, the advancement of God’s message should be our passion. We must believe that the plans of God are only accomplished through God’s power, while the resistance to God’s message is God’s problem. As believers in Jesus Christ we are called to live these principles by faith following His leadership as His people. Moses submitted to God’s leadership in his life while Pharaoh resisted God’s power. When we follow God’s leading we submit to His power and submit to His work through our lives. Like Moses, we need to allow God’s power to be displayed through us so others can know that the LORD alone is God. That is God’s power play.

For more see FEAR, FAITH & FOLLOWING