Are You Missing God's Plan?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY from Sheri Rose Shepherd: "If the devil can't make you bad, the next best thing he can do is to make you busy." 

Colossians 3:1-4 says, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly (worldly) things.  For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

The second verse says to set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  This, to me, is the key to holy living and keeping your eyes on the path God has chosen for you.  Everything we do that is not of God distracts us from His plan.

Verse 17 of Colossians 3 says, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

This verse is telling us not to do ANYTHING unless it is according to Jesus and His will for your life.

Hmmm.  Easier said than done. 

Just what does it mean to do everything “in the name of the Lord Jesus”?  I believe He wants to be a part of every decision we make, every activity we get involved in, every step we take.  God has a specific plan designed individually for each of our lives.  If we get distracted by what the world has to offer, we could easily miss it.  Our sole purpose for living on Earth is to fulfill that plan.  That plan will always involve increasing His Kingdom and bringing lost souls to Him.

 

We are not all called to go out and be evangelists and “reap the harvest”.  Many of us are here to “plant seeds”, whether it is reaching out to the homeless, serving in a prison ministry, or even teaching a Bible Study.  (This list could go on and on – for me it’s reaching out to married couples.)

If this plan looks so simple in black and white, why have we gotten so far from it and complicated our lives on the way with so much busyness?

As the opening quote says, “If the devil can’t make you bad, then he’ll make you busy.”  The devil knows his days are numbered, and he has magnified his war to win souls and turn people from God.  He’s already got the non-believers, so he’s after Christians.  They know not to be "bad", so he's slyly tricked them into busyness.

I believe the devil has been most successful by first, making many think he doesn’t exist, even Christians, and second, by breaking down that wall that used to separate Christians from non-believers.  Christians in our time now mesh with the world.  We no longer stand out as different.  We live, speak, and do as the world does.  And so, we’ve become grossly busy in an attempt to feel worthy and successful, as the world would judge worthy and successful.  Because we are now worldlier than ever, most of us are missing the call God has for our lives.

My suggestion for staying on God’s path and avoiding busyness is to pray about everything you do.  “Lord, is this something you want me to do?  Will this enhance the journey you have planned for me?”  It’s taken me a long time to make this a habit.  Many years of involvement in activities that have worn me out and taken precious time from God have finally helped me to prioritize every step I take.

When we get to heaven, God will not be looking at our extensive list of earthly achievements.   He desires to see how far we got in the race to finish His plan for our lives, so He can say to us, “Well done my good and faithful servant!”  To me, that will be the ultimate achievement!