Have you ever wondered about the theology of predestination? There are those who believe, due to certain Scripture references, that we are, individually, predetermined to eternal destinations of either heaven or hell. Personally, I adamantly do not believe in predestination of our eternal souls...to me, that theology eliminates the whole message of the Gospel --- that God's love for us prompted His action to make a way for us to enter into a state of salvation, through our choice of acceptance of His gift of love. I believe the predestination that is often mentioned in the Bible references the plan of God that He had before any of us ever came into being...before we were, He predestined that we would have a choice to obey or rebel. He predestined that He would provide a choice for us to make, and He predestined that His Son would pay the price for our sins.
This week's verse contains another aspect of predestination that I accept: God's predestination of opportunities for each of us in our lives to accomplish good on His behalf. I believe that every one who comes into relationship with God through Christ Jesus, becomes a new creation, (2 Corinthians 5:17) separate and apart from the mortal creature of our earthly birth. We become a new work of extreme value, because we are now God's hands and feet on this earth. We are now capable of joining with Him in His work here, moving at His prompting, to do the big, and the small, things that He needs done in peoples' lives. Things that we are uniquely positioned and equipped to be able to accomplish for Him.
Does that excite you? I hope it does!
Does it make you look at your life a little differently...with a little more uncertainty? I hope it does!
Just as James reminds us that our plans are certainly not set in stone (James 4:13-15), we need to realize that our Christian lives should be easily adapted to God's directives.
God is ready to give us the most interesting and exciting lives we can imagine (well actually, we can't imagine!)...allowing us to participate with Him in His eternal plans. Can you get any bigger than that? Whatever you have planned for your life, I daresay, it can't compare!
Give it up...give it all to God...He will show you wonderful things! Join the Psalmist in this prayer of requisition to our Father to see His work, to join with Him, and to achieve success in our accomplishment of it...
This week's verse contains another aspect of predestination that I accept: God's predestination of opportunities for each of us in our lives to accomplish good on His behalf. I believe that every one who comes into relationship with God through Christ Jesus, becomes a new creation, (2 Corinthians 5:17) separate and apart from the mortal creature of our earthly birth. We become a new work of extreme value, because we are now God's hands and feet on this earth. We are now capable of joining with Him in His work here, moving at His prompting, to do the big, and the small, things that He needs done in peoples' lives. Things that we are uniquely positioned and equipped to be able to accomplish for Him.
Does that excite you? I hope it does!
Does it make you look at your life a little differently...with a little more uncertainty? I hope it does!
Just as James reminds us that our plans are certainly not set in stone (James 4:13-15), we need to realize that our Christian lives should be easily adapted to God's directives.
God is ready to give us the most interesting and exciting lives we can imagine (well actually, we can't imagine!)...allowing us to participate with Him in His eternal plans. Can you get any bigger than that? Whatever you have planned for your life, I daresay, it can't compare!
Give it up...give it all to God...He will show you wonderful things! Join the Psalmist in this prayer of requisition to our Father to see His work, to join with Him, and to achieve success in our accomplishment of it...
Show your servants the wonderful things you do; show your greatness to their children. Lord our God, treat us well. Give us success in what we do; yes, give us success in what we do.
Psalm 90:16-17
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