I know the plans I have for you.
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

Today God is saying to you, "While in process, stick to the plan!" Nothing takes God by surprise. He's a master planner. Joseph discovered that when your family turns against you, your friends let you down and you finish up in trouble, God still has a plan. Looking back Joseph could say, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good" (Genesis 50:20 NIV). When your situation seems too hard to handle and downright impossible to explain, remind yourself that God said, "I know the plans I have for you."

Some of us are not sure God has made up His mind about us, so we keep trying to earn His favour. Give it up! Receive the truth that God, for Christ's sake, has decided to bless you. And when God decides, temporary situations or the actions of others don't change His decision. There's nothing the enemy devises against you that God hasn't already made 'a way of escape' for. Paul writes, "God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Observe:
(1) In times of testing you discover how faithful God is.
(2) He knows what you can handle.
(3) He will "make a way" so you can exit this season stronger, and ready for what He has next. So stick to the plan. The fact that you have a problem is a sign that you have a promise. It's only a matter of time before God reveals the solution.

Stick To The Plan (2)

My God, why have You forsaken Me?
Matthew 27:46 NIV

Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him, yet He didn't stop him. He could have summoned twelve legions of angels to help Him, yet He didn't call on them. Under the weight of our sins He cried from the cross, "My God, why have You forsaken Me?" That's because He understood it was all part of God's plan for Him. His words, "God, where are You?" teach us that: (a) You can be in God's plan yet at times feel overwhelmed and alone. (b) When God doesn't answer you must stand on the Word He has given you. (c) The pain of this season will eventually give way to the joy God has waiting for you on the other side of it. So stick to the plan; that's what disciples do.

The word 'disciple' means to be disciplined. It means sticking to the plan when you're under attack. It teaches you how to function when you don't feel like it. The enemy will come against the plan of God in your life, because that plan is like a hedge of protection around you. As long as you stay in God's plan, nothing that the enemy does can destroy you.

In his first letter to the church at Corinth, Paul has to correct a false assumption. “I have written in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people – not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.” (1 Corinthians 5:9-10 NIV)

His assumption – that of course followers of Christ will be associating with immoral people – is not a commonly held assumption in most Christian circles where avoiding people like this is the more usual practice. But his argument is basic common sense. The only way to avoid immoral people would be to “leave this world,” because, well, the world is pretty much populated with people like this. In other words, there is a shortage of morally upright, kind, generous, God-fearing people in the world. If those are the only people you are going to allow yourself to associate with, you might find yourself in very limited company. (And I would have to add, from experience, you would most likely end up in the company of people who are morally upright in their own minds only, and not in their heart of hearts.)

This should actually be welcoming news for most of us who know that there isn't much that separates us as followers of Christ from anyone else, but the grace of God – a grace that is extended to anyone and everyone without exception or distinction.

I offer, for your reflection along these lines, a quote from the “Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous” passed on to me by a fellow Christian who is a recovering alcoholic.

Why sit with a long face in places where there is drinking, sighing about the good old days. If it is a happy occasion, try to increase the pleasure of those there; if a business occasion, go and attend to your business enthusiastically. If you are with a person who wants to eat in a bar, by all means go along. Let your friends know they are not to change their habits on your account. At a proper time and place explain to all your friends why alcohol disagrees with you. If you do this thoroughly, few people will ask you to drink. While you were drinking, you were withdrawing from life little by little. Now you are getting back into the social life of this world. Don't start to withdraw again just because your friends drink liquor.

I'm Ron Hutchcraft, and I want to have A Word With You today about "A Party in Your Honor."

Now this may come as a surprise to you, but someone would love to have a party in your honor - the angels in heaven. Honest.

Our word for today from the Word of God comes from the words of Jesus in Luke 15 beginning with verse 3, "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says: 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."

Rejoicing in heaven when one person comes home spiritually; that's a great picture isn't it? It seems that the angels break into a celebration - a welcome home party - when someone turns from their sin to Jesus. Some of us stumble over that word "sinner"; we don't like to think that applies to us. That's somebody else, right? But the Bible says clearly, "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Every one of us has missed the way that we were created to live.

We were supposed to live centered around the One who gave us our life. Instead we've lived with ourselves in the center, and sin is deadly. The Bible says it literally carries an eternal death penalty.

But Jesus is that loving Shepherd who came after us lost sheep. And "lost" may be a good word to describe how you feel - confused about why you're here, wondering why there's a deep loneliness that never really goes away, wondering where peace and fulfillment are really found. All that is because you're away from the One who made you - the One who loves you most. But Jesus came after you. He went all the way to a cross where He died to pay the sin-penalty that you could only pay with an eternity in hell.

So on the day that you finally put your trust in Jesus to be your own Savior, the angels begin the party in your honor. Why? Because they know how much it cost to rescue you. They saw the Son of God return to heaven with something He didn't have when He left for earth - nail prints in His hands and feet and a spear wound in His side. They also know what's at stake in your decision about Jesus. They know this is life-or-death; this is heaven or hell.

Maybe with all you know about Jesus, with all your religion, you've never actually been born into God's family. And you've never told Jesus that you're turning from running your own life and totally trusting Him to forgive your sin and get you to heaven. I hope you will not risk another day without Jesus.

If you want to get this settled once and for all, and you want to begin your relationship with Jesus Christ today, would you tell Him right now, "Jesus, I believe that I have run my own life, and I know that's wrong. And I believe You paid the penalty for it when You died on the cross. I believe You didn't stay dead, but You walked out of your grave. And Jesus, I turn from running my own life to grab You with both hands as my rescuer from my sin. Beginning today, Jesus, I am Yours."

We'd love to help you be sure you belong to Jesus Christ. In fact, that's why our website is there, and I want to invite you to go visit there as soon as you can today. It's YoursForLife.net, or you can call for the little booklet Yours for Life. Just call toll free at 877-741-1200.