MORNING MANNA 2-5-22
GOD’S PLAN
“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.”- John 17:1–4
Has it ever occurred to you that nothing has ever occurred to God? Do you realize that our God is an all-knowing God? There was not one step on His journey to the Cross that caught Him by surprise. No difficulty entered His life that He was not anticipating. God knows everything. He is the author and finisher of our faith.
John 17 shows that Christ’s journey to the Cross was a very personal journey. It was planned between the Father and the Son. Verse 1 says, “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee.” As you read that verse, realize that Christ had known about this day since before the world was made. He knew He would go through this. He knew what was to follow. Yet He went through it willingly. He subjected Himself to the pains and difficulties of human life because there was an eternal purpose in it all.
Did you get that? Christ knew what difficulties were going to come into His own earthly life. He allowed them to come, not because it was easy or because it was the best thing to do, but because it was needed. There was a purpose in it all. Your salvation and mine was at the forefront of His mind.
Even so, God allows difficulties into your life not because He desires to make life difficult, but because He desires to bring about His purpose in your life—to teach you something, to draw you closer to Him, to make you a better Christian. Whatever the outcome, one of God’s foremost ways of developing you as a Christian is through trials.
Think back to the last trial you went through. Was it financial, a death in the family, a spiritual battle? Now that you are past that trial can you see how God worked through it? Or did you resist Him? When you go through a time of trial, realize that God has a purpose in it. Let Him work in your life and you will come out a stronger Christian.
Everyone experiences trials. Even the most spiritual Christians face tough times. But God has a plan for each trial. He desires to work through your trial, but the outcome of your trial is up to you. Will you fight God’s plan and resist Him? Or will you submit to His plan and purpose and become a better Christian? – Copied
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346
