1. God's Way Is The Best Way
I made plans to go to my Mom's for Thanksgiving Lunch. My sisters and I had been planning what we would fix for the meal and I looked forward to being with my family. But, I was not able to go and I was disappointed to miss the special time of food and fellowship. Looking back, a few days later, I remember the verses in Isaiah 55:8-9. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." We can make our plans, and they might feel like the best plans, but sometimes our ways are not God's ways. And even though I don't understand why some things happen the way they do, I know that my God loves me, and He knows what is best for me, and He will take care of me according to His will. I want to look at a few examples in the Bible where people found themselves in situations that were different than what they had planned.
2. Mary Didn't Plan The Events Of The Birth Of Jesus
For the next few weeks we will be celebrating the birth of Jesus, our Savior. Many have already planned family get-togethers, church dinners, and Christmas parties. We are making gift shopping lists, and grocery lists for the special meals and goodies we want to prepare. Some make an activity list and feel like it just isn't Christmas unless all the fun times can be checked off the list. Let's think back to the first Christmas. Joseph and Mary had to leave their home and take a difficult journey to pay their taxes. This was a hardship on them, but it took them to Bethlehem to fulfill the prophecy of where the Christ child would be born. When they got there they found that there was no room in the inn. I am sure that Mary had not planned to have her precious Son in a stable. All the preparations they may have made had to be left behind, and after the visit by the wisemen, they had to go into Egypt to protect their Son. This did not ruin Christmas for Mary. "But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart." (Luke 2:19) We can learn from Mary. We may not get to spend Christmas how and where we plan. Special needs may come up that deplete our finances and we may not be able to give as much as we wanted. We may not be able to see all of our loved ones at this special time of year. But we can still keep Christmas in our heart and celebrate the birth of Jesus. I enjoy making lists and checking things off to mark my progress, but I need to focus on the meaning of Christmas, and not let the activities or preparations and plans for Christmas interfere with my worship.
3. Naomi Didn't Plan On Losing Her Husband And Sons
In the little book of Ruth we find the story of Elimelech and Naomi, and their two sons. They journeyed to Moab when there was a famine in the land. The two sons got married, and then Elimelech and the two sons died. Naomi decided to go back home and she said her good-byes to her daughters-in-law. "And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me." (Ruth 1:16-17) "So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi? And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?" (Ruth 1:19-21) This was not the way Naomi had planned to come back home. She went away full and came back empty. The story does have a happy ending. Ruth marries Naomi's kinsman redeemer and her son will be the grandfather of King David. Several people in our church have been touched by death in their families this year. Christmas will be hard as they miss their loved ones who have gone on. My Dad died unexpectedly several years ago and I still think of him and miss him more during the holidays. We need to be kind to one another and reach out to those who are missing their loved ones, especially during Christmas.
4. Elijah Didn't Plan On His Low Defeat After His Mountain Top Victory
Elijah was a prophet of God during a time when Israel was worshiping idols.
17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?
18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.
19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.
20 So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.
21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
22 Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men." (I Kings 18:17-22)
God gave Elijah a great victory on the top of mount Carmel but when the wicked Queen Jezebel heard it she threatened to kill Elijah and he left his servant and ran for his life into the wilderness. "But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers." (I Kings 19:4) Sometimes we take a stand for God and feel victorious, only to find ourselves down in the dumps, hiding out, a few days later. We don't understand how we can feel so good one day and fall so quickly the next. An angel fed Elijah and let him sleep and get the rest he needed. As we push forward with all our Christmas plans we can be overwhelmed in our physical strength. We need to make sure we take time to eat and get the rest we need. When you feel like you are stooping under the load, don't hide away from your close friends who may be able to give you strength, spiritually and emotionally. Finally, listen for God's still small voice. He can bring you through times of mental despair. We don't plan on the valleys in our lives, but God is able to lift us up again when we trust in Him.
5. Joseph Didn't Plan On Being Sold By His Family
We think of Christmas as being a time when families get together and celebrate. But, what if someone in your family treated you wrongfully? What if there are troubles from the past that you can't get over? Why not ask yourself this Christmas if the time has come for you to put away the anger and bitter feelings you have? You may be thinking, "But you don't know what he did to me." Or, "You didn't hear what she said to me." What did Jesus say about forgiveness? "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6:14 & 15) Our Biblical example today is Joseph, from the Old Testament.
Life started out good for Joseph. He was favored by his father, who gave him a coat of many colors. He dreamed of his family bowing down to him, but I don't think he dreamed of all that would take place before that happened. His eleven brothers were so jealous of him that they sold him into slavery. He was wrongfully accused by his master's wife and put into prison. But, even though this was not the path Joseph would have chosen, we are told, "The Lord was with Joseph." (Genesis 39:2 & 21) In time Joseph became a ruler in Egypt and his brothers did indeed bow before him. Joseph recognized God's hand on his life and showed kindness to the very ones who had been so mean to him.
"18 And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.
19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them." (Genesis 50:18-21)
6. Noah Didn't Plan On His Family Being The Only Ones Saved
When Noah was building the ark, do you think that he ever asked the Lord if it would be big enough for all the people to get on? In using 18 inches for a cubit, the ark was 450 x 75 x 45 feet, with three stories. Even with all the animals being represented, there would have been room for more people. Genesis 6:3 tells us that God gave the people 120 years before He would destroy the earth. "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD." (Genesis 6:8) He worked to build the ark and gathered the food and animals. And I believe that Noah was prepared to take others onboard, because II Peter 2:5 tells us that Noah was "a preacher of righteousness." His three sons and all of their wives were saved, but his aunts and uncles, his cousins and neighbors, all refused to listen and were killed in the flood. Christmas is a great time to give out the gospel message. The Lord is coming again and we don't want our loved ones to be left behind. Let's work to tell others and pray that the Holy Spirit will convict them of their sin, and that they will call on Jesus to save them before it is too late.
7. King David Wanted To Build God A Temple, But That Was Not God's Way
As we continue with our Bible theme, "When Our Ways Are Not God's Ways" we come to the story of David. He was chosen by God and called, "a man after mine own heart." (Acts 13:22) God called him as a young boy, watching over his father's sheep, to become King over His people. He is also called "the sweet psalmist of Israel" in II Samuel 23:1. Nathan the Prophet knew King David and when he wanted to build a temple for the Lord, Nathan was all for it. "And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies; That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains. And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee." (II Samuel 7:1-3) But David's ways were not God's ways. It was a great thing that he wanted to do, but God would not allow David to build His house. He told David that his son would be the one to build the temple. David didn't get upset with God's decision, but instead he praised the Lord. Sometimes we have ideas that we think are great, and those around us might also think they are great, but our ways are not always God's ways. As we come to the end of the year, with another year just ahead, let's seek the Lord's will in all that we do. We may have big resolutions for 2020, but we need to put the Lord first in all our plans.
8. We Don't Plan To Get Sick
I have been praising the Lord that I have been feeling so much better the last few months. Friday night I woke up coughing several times during the night. By morning I had a sore throat, low grade fever and didn't feel like doing anything. Our way would be to be healthy and never get sick. But, our ways are not God's ways. I went Christmas shopping with my Mom, grocery shopping, and to church Wednesday night, so I don't know where I picked up the germs. Even if I did know, that wouldn't make a difference in the way I feel. When Jesus walked on earth He healed many of their diseases, all who came to Him. "Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them." (Luke 4:40) I like the story of the man who had four friends that took him to Jesus and when they couldn't find a way to get in the house, his friends carried him up to the roof and let him down. "When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee." (Mark 2:5) Jesus saw their faith and saved the man and healed him. We can pray with faith for our own problems, and we can pray for others. Please take time to pray for others.
