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Pastor John Parker |
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PARKER’S =
WEEKLY
originally published in the Chowchilla News July 15, 2008 |
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I
used to joke, “Do you want to make God laugh? Then go ahead! Plan
something!” It gets l=
aughs
because, I suspect, it relieves some confusion over why, as author John
Steinbeck once wrote, “Even the best laid plans of mice and men oft
times go awry.” The
joke is partly is true. There are higher forces at work seeking to mess w=
ith
our plans and laughing at our confusion! What’s not true is the
assertion that the one who is laughing is God! He’s NOT! He’s too c=
aring
for that. He doesn’t =
mess
with us just for kicks. He
takes no pleasure about things going sideways in our lives. He wants us c=
ome
to him in order to live! (Ezekiel 18:32) He doesn’t enjoy our pain =
or
disappointments. He wants to prosper us and to give us an abundant life.
(John 10:10) His loving pla=
ns
toward us are full of peace and not of evil to give us a future and a hop=
e.
(Jeremiah 29:11) The
higher forces seeking to mess with our plans are identified in the Bible =
as
“principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, =
and
spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:10-12) These spi=
rits
are the “high things” that seek to hinder us from believing in
the loving plans of God for us. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5) Their goal is
“to steal and kill and destroy.”(John 10:10) Sadly, they also loved my joke,
whenever I told it, because it makes God the fall guy, the one to blame,
instead of them. Of
course, God’s plans must be discerned and they are often different =
from
what we think they ought to be.
This is the leadership lesson Simon Peter begins to learn from Jes=
us
in the following account. Jesus
was staying at Simon’s home in But
Jesus’ discerns some other plans. “And
rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and
went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who
were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him,
‘Everyone is looking for you.’ And he said to them, ‘Le=
t us
go on to the next towns, that I may preach the=
re
also, for that is why I came out.’” (Mark 1:35-38 ESV) Do
you see the conflict in plans?
Simon expects Jesus to stay since as he explains, “Everyone =
is
looking for you.”
Jesus, after seeking his heavenly Father, ignores the popular pres=
sure
and responds, “Let us go on to the next towns, =
that
I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” Simon
Peter must have been puzzled over the change. But I don’t see Jesus laug=
hing.
No! Our disappointments do not make God laugh or ridicule us. In
fact, God guarantees that when we need help about making plans and getting
wisdom he will not scold, ridicule, or laugh at us for asking and he will
generously give us guidance if we will ask in faith. (James 1:5-7) So
my old joke is now a new saying: “Do you want to make God laugh with
joy? Seek him in all your ways and he will direct your paths!”
(Proverbs 3:5-6) So go ahead! Plan something! If he’s included at t=
he
planning stage you can know that he’s laughing and cheering you on
through our great indwelling Encourager, God the Holy Spirit! |
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