God's Plan for Us

God does not need a Plan B.
His Plan A is perfect. 

It needs no upgrades; no updates; no bug fixes and no corrections. 

It is not one-sided, but factors all things. That is why His wisdom is called, "manifold". 

Its workings are not only for the temporal but for the eternal. 

His plans are dependable. They are trustworthy. They are for our welfare; to give us a future and a hope. They are the best we can have. No one can plan better. 

Let us trust God completely and unwaveringly. Through Jesus Christ we are truly blessed.

I Have this Against You

I was reflecting on the words of our glorified Lord when He asked John to write to the church in Ephesus. For the first time the strong warning that the Lord Jesus gave them made me afraid. He said, “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you, and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent (Rev. 2:4, 5).

Jesus first commended the church for their deeds, their toil, their perseverance and their intolerance towards false apostles (Rev. 2:2). He also approved of their hatred towards the Nicolaitans—those who advocated false doctrines and teachings (Rev. 2:6). Yet despite all this, the Lord warned them that He would remove the church—they would be no more—if they did not repent from their half-hearted devotion to Him. This brief yet strong warning shook me because it showed me how seriously God looks at our love and devotion to Him. The risen Lord reprimanded the church in Laodicea for this same reason saying, “I would that you were cold or hot” (Rev. 3:15). In simple words: It’s all or nothing. Here again the warning of the faithful and true Witness was powerful: “So because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth” (Rev. 3:16).

When Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, he sought to secure from them “an undistracted devotion to the Lord” (1Cor. 7:35). The Amplified New Testament elaborates this so well saying: “…to secure your undistracted and undivided devotion to the Lord.” Another term that beautifully brings out this meaning is single-minded devotion. When writing to the same church in his second letter Paul said something similar, “…I betrothed you to one husband, that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ” (2Cor. 11:2, 3). We have heard God say that He is a jealous God (Deut. 4:24). What do we learn from these verses? That our Redeemer is looking for us to be true to our part of the covenant by loving Him with a sincere undistracted love and devotion.  

Coming back to the church in Ephesus. Here were Christians that Paul had spent three years with (Acts: 20:32). Day after day in this period (from around 53 AD) he laboured with them. He never ceased to admonish each one with tears. 40 years later when the Apostle John was writing the revelation of Jesus Christ (around 90 AD), the Ephesian Christians were still faithful to their work and toil for the kingdom of God; conducting several activities for the glory of God. All these spoke volumes of the strong foundation Paul had established in them. They persevered in the things of the gospel. They tested every teaching that so-called false apostles taught. From all this it appears that despite the city itself being an idolatrous, corrupt business hub they were an 'active', 'vibrant' church. Still the Lord Jesus told them that He would remove the church from its place if they did not repent and get back to that simplicity and purity of undistracted devotion to Him.

Oh that each of us, members of the body of Christ, would love God with all our heart and all our soul and all our mind (Mt. 22:37). Oh that every stone in the living temple of God would be firmly established in the truth of righteousness knowing well that each one is sanctified for God alone—a people for God’s own possession (1Pet. 2:9). Oh that every branch in the living Vine would recognize that apart from Jesus we can do nothing (Jn. 15:5b). There is such a crying need in the Church today to get back to our first love for Christ—a love that clings to Him in faith; a love that submits wholeheartedly to His will; a love that says to Him in sincerity, “the world behind me; the cross before me.” We need to awaken. We need to arise that Christ will shine on us (Eph. 5:14). It is imperative that we hearken to the warning of the Spirit of God for if the glorified Saviour was willing to take away the “lampstand from out of its place”—and we know that God does not lie but always keeps His word—will He treat us differently?

I believe that the church at Ephesus took the warning of Jesus seriously and repented; for history tells us that 20 years later (around 110 AD), Bishop Ignatius of Antioch wrote a letter to the church to encourage them. May we learn from these examples the things that are important to God. May we be preserved from deceiving ourselves; satisfied with leaves only and bereft of fruit. “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it” (Mt. 7:14).

Christ in You, the Hope of Glory

The gospel through Jesus Christ is filled with numerous and very precious privileges. Each promise in the gospel is so great and full of honour that it would be difficult to place them in an order of importance. There is one privilege however that I found the Lord, in His mercy, draw my attention to—one that has captivated me and is fast becoming in me something of an obsession.

“Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27)—the last four words of the verse aptly summing up our earnest expectation to share in this glory—is a mystery that is filled with the richness of God’s glory and grace. It is a mystery that God chose in His wisdom to hide from past ages and generations but to make known now to the saints in the Church (Col. 1:26). I have read this and several similar verses in the past but it is only now that God has opened my eyes to see the glory of this mystery. I used to pray and sing, "let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me." I knew that God's will is for us to reflect the life of our Saviour. But I have suddenly been made more conscious of this truth than ever before. Paul who understood and experienced this great privilege prayed for the Ephesians that they too would be strengthened in the inner man with power by the Holy Spirit so that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith (Eph. 3:17). The fact that the Apostle experienced this glorious mystery is evident when he declared, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me…” (Gal. 2:20).  

Now to experience such a privilege, the starting point must be a life of faith, obedience in righteousness and the fear of God. From scripture we will quickly learn that God has called us to live lives that are set apart for Himself. The terms ‘holy’ and ‘sanctified’ used numerously with regard to the Church emphasises this importance. We are fully aware that Christ shed His blood to cleanse us of all sins so that we would lay aside the old self which is being corrupted with lusts of deceit (Eph. 4:22); and be renewed in the attitude of our mind (Eph. 4:23 NIV); and put on the new self—and here lies the characteristics that has the necessary ingredients for the life of Christ to dwell in our hearts—which in the likeness of God has been created in true righteousness and holiness (Eph. 4:24 NKJV).

We won't need long to realize the futility of striving with our own strength to achieve a Christ-like life of righteousness and humility and love. Such attempts end up with failure, frustration and discouragement. But when we depend on God for His power, His favour and His mercy, the life that our Lord has purposed for us to experience in the gospel can be realized. God who has given this privilege for us to lay hold of is faithful to guide our thirsting hearts.

This mystery of the life of Christ in us is what our Saviour meant when He said, “You are the light of the world” (Mt. 5:14). It is through this life of Christ in us that our fruit abounds to the glory of the Father and proves our allegiance as disciples (Jn. 15:8). It is vital to note that our Lord said this while commanding us to abide in Him, the true Vine. Such abiding helps us branches draw its life and sustenance from the Vine, Jesus Christ.

I recognize my own inadequacies as I write this for I am painfully conscious how much God still has to do in me so that the life I live is no longer I but Christ in me. What does it mean, “Christ in me”? I confess that I do not have the full answer but I pursue with God’s help what is already revealed to us of the life of Christ. 

The Messiah showed how important He considered the will of God (Jn. 4:34; Mt. 12:50). His faith in and obedience to the Father is clearly seen throughout the four gospels. Selfless giving and overflowing love characterized His life (Eph. 5:2). Humility and not looking at personal interest was another quality that defined our Saviour (Php. 2:3-5). Patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness—the hallmarks of agape love are what He commanded us to emulate (Jn. 13:34; 15:12). Two terms Paul uses to describe Christ’s love for the Church: ‘nourish’ and ‘cherish’ (Eph. 5:29). To cherish is to protect and care for lovingly (as one would a precious treasure). May I be faithful to increasingly imitate these characteristics first; for he that is faithful in a very little, is faithful also in much (Lk. 16:10).

Help us O God of all grace and mercy. Strengthen us in the inner man with Thy mighty power by the Holy Spirit so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith. Unless Thou build O Lord, all who labour, do so in vain. There is nobody else that can carry out and lead us to the experience of this amazing privilege in the gospel except Thee. In the richness of Thy grace Thou didst purpose that the life of Thy Son Jesus Christ dwell in us. Now lead us and work in us to experience its fulfilment.

Why God Tests Us

Lessons from Deuteronomy 8:2-5

While reflecting on what God spoke to the Israelites in chapter eight of Deuteronomy, I could identify four aspects that brought out God’s purpose and heart in His working in us. The more I meditated on each of these aspects, the more it helped me understand God.

Now part of the passage reads like this:

And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not (Deut. 8:2).

So one of the first aspects I could identify in God’s working is His reason for testing us. Two phrases stand out—humble you and test you. The verse then identifies the intention of the test—to know what is in your heart, whether you would keep the commandments or not. Without exception, each one of us can testify of trying times that we have gone through, whether at home, or in our work place; whether with finances or health or relationships. The Bible records for our own instruction (1Cor. 10:11) the various times the Israelites were tested in the wilderness—at the crossing of the Red Sea (Ex. 14:11-14); or before God provided manna (Ex. 16:2-4); or water from the rock (Ex. 17:2-7); or at other times in the wilderness. They had already witnessed the power of God and had no shortage of reasons to trust Him at each test. Yet they failed.

Before the crossing of the Red Sea, they had seen the wrath of God on Pharaoh and the Egyptians and how each time he miraculously kept the children of Abraham safe. Before the manna, they were witnesses to the phenomenal power of God not only in making a way (where there was no way). He also showed them that He was their Defender by destroying the Egyptian army and their chariots when they pursued the Hebrews. They had no dearth of personal testimonies to show at each test that their God was powerful and He was caring; that He was their Defender and that He was their Provider. Yet each time they grumbled (1Cor. 10:10). Each time they displayed unbelief and disobedience (Heb. 3:19; 4:11). God used each test to humble them and reveal what was in their heart.

“Today, if you hear His voice,” the writer to the Hebrews now warns us, “do not harden your hearts as when they provoked Me.” (Heb. 3:15; 4:7) Can we, through learning from Israel’s mistakes, now humble ourselves in times of testing? The fruit of true humility at such times is a spirit of trust and dependence on God. I call these fruits of humility because we are so full of ourselves that we run to God only when all that we've tried fails. Can we, in each difficult situation, cease from grumbling and complaining? Can we rest in the fact that our lives and circumstances are safe in the hands of our God who is in control and that He is able to cause all things to work for our good (Rom. 8:28)? Can we lean not on our own understanding (Prov. 3:5) but lean on Him in total dependence, our hearts crying, “My help comes from Thee, O Maker of heaven and earth” (Psa. 121:2)?

I strongly believe that if in the time of testing, we are open to the conviction of the Holy Spirit as He shows us what is in our hearts, His working would allow us to submit easily  when our faith is tested—that it may come through as more precious than gold refined in fire (1Pet. 1:6, 7). By that same working, God would teach us to persevere—for the testing of our faith brings perseverance (Jas. 1:2, 3).

The second aspect in the passage I reflected on brought out God’s care and protection. The Lord had repeatedly in the previous chapters and in the verses that followed this passage, made it amply clear to the Hebrew wanderers that He was going to take them into the promised land and was going to, with a mighty hand, give victory over those that were known to be undefeatable (Deut. 9:2); and grant to them great and beautiful things that they never laboured for (Deut. 6:10-12). But He also kept repeating the importance to love Him with all their hearts and obey Him (Deut. 8:6). So while giving these instructions, God now reminds the Israelites how He fed them with manna which they did not know nor did their fathers know (Deut. 8:3); how their garments did not wear out on them—their clothes did not tear nor did they become short (Deut. 8:4). God reminded them how through all their journey in the hot desert of Sinai their feet did not swell in all of the forty years (Deut. 8:4); and how through the great and terrible wilderness, He kept them safe from the fiery serpents and scorpions and provided for them from a hard rock in a thirsty land where there was no water (Deut. 8:15).

Oh that we can, in each of our own trials, constantly remind ourselves of the unfailing goodness of God and the inseparable love that He has for us in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:38, 39). If we could only fully grasp the meaning of Paul’s statement—"He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32)—would then learn to rest with the peace of God in each trial and in every testing situation.

The third aspect that I could identify from the passage in Deuteronomy 8 was God’s desire for us to depend on Him not only for earthly blessings; but rather to lean on and cling to His all-wise, dependable, infallible word. This aspect comes through when God says, “He let you be hungry and fed you with manna… that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.” (Deut. 8:3) I can witness from my own life that no one who trusts in God’s word—making all one’s life’s choices and decisions on the basis of God’s leading, His will and His word—has ever been put to shame. I have sought to live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God and I have seen how faithful God has been to keep me safe in His perfect path. He has gently guided my steps and kept me from the ways of error. Even when at times I was uncertain, God never failed to confirm His constant involvement in me by speaking to my heart; using His word.

Then there is the fourth aspect that clearly comes through in verse 5—the Father-heart and love for His children. He says, “You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the LORD your God chastens you.” (Deut. 8:5). We are all familiar with the verse in Hebrews that says, “For whom the Lord loves He chastens and scourges every son whom He receives.” (Heb. 12:6) Now I ask a question converse to the one that the Bible poses. Just as God disciplines us when we need correction (Heb. 10:9), would He discipline us if we stay true to Him and His word? Would He rebuke us if we walk close to Him with faith and obedience in undistracted love and devotion? Would an earthly father spank his son if He is doing the right things? Then why would our heavenly Father need to chastise us unnecessarily? We can be certain that He takes no pleasure in disciplining us if we do what is right. This infers then that, it is possible, when we are chastised or disciplined—and this can come in various ways, by way of sickness, or by any other way—that there must be an area in our life that needs attention. The quicker we are to identify it, repent and seek God’s face to sin no more in what He has convicted us, the sooner we are free from that period of chastisement. Of course, there are others areas of testing that God takes us through, though these are not because of sin, but because the Father is seeking to do a greater work—a work that makes us stronger and takes us deeper in our walk with Him. Yet whatever the circumstance or reason for discipline, God reveals His Father-heart by, in effect, telling us: “I love you. I want to lead you from glory to glory. I know what needs to be done. Trust Me. Submit to My working. My grace is sufficient for you.”

Four glorious aspects in as many verses bring out what our good, good God and Father wants to achieve in times of testing. May He find in us submissive, trusting, obedient hearts. In doing so we will witness the great grace of God when He says, “Do not be terrified of them (our enemies, our difficulties or our circumstances); for the LORD your God, the great and awesome God, is among you.” (Deut. 7:21)

Let the King of Glory Come In

“Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in,” (Psa. 24:7) sang David with probably a whole choir in tow as they brought the Ark of the Covenant into the ancient city of the Jebusites that he had captured. King David continued his anthem of exaltation: Who is this King of glory? He is the Lord strong and mighty. He is the Lord mighty in battle. He is the LORD of hosts. This is the King of glory (Psa. 24:8, 10). So there was the historic significance of the psalm and as one commentary writes, there was a prophetic meaning too. “The psalm was greater than the occasion and has generally been interpreted as prophetic of Christ’s ascension after victory over death and sin and of His ultimate sovereignty over all.” *

However as I meditated on this psalm, I wondered of its significance for me. I reflected on the terms used—gates and everlasting (or ancient) doors. I was so eager for the King of glory to ‘come in’. Oh how we constantly need more of Him; more of His fullness and His glorious presence. How we need to constantly submit to His Kingship. It was at this time that I was reminded of the Lord Jesus and His triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

Jesus had entered Jerusalem several times before yet this final entry was momentous. He was now entering the city one last time. Unknown to the great multitude that gathered to hail Him, His next few days there, His death outside the city, His resurrection and His emphatic victory over sin and death was to herald the King of kings and the Lord of lords who would sit at the Father’s right hand. Two significant things caught my attention. One, the disciples and the multitudes spread their garments on the road before this King (Lk. 19:36) and two, the great multitude of disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice (Lk. 19:37). I related this to my own life in the context of my reflection to Psalm 24. I knew that laying down one’s cloak was an act of submission. It was acknowledging and accepting the authority of the ruler. 

Lift up your gates Oh my soul! Lift it up with joyful praise. Lift up thy doors in adoration; for He has done, and is still doing great things. Let the King of glory come in and let Him take His rightful place on the throne of thy heart. For is He not the King of the universe? Is it not written, “The earth is the Lord’s and all its fullness; the world and those who dwell therein” (Psa. 24:1)? Why then is it so hard to lay down your cloak before Him in submission? 

It is important to note that when our glorified Lord asked the Apostle John to write to the Church at Laodicea, He was not speaking to unbelievers when He said, "Behold I stand at the door and knock." (Rev. 3:20) His message was to the Church. It is possible for us Christians to do the usual routine of fellowshiping with saints, actively participating in Church activities, reading the Bible and praying while all the time, the King of glory stands out.

Yet there is no better authority to surrender to than that of our God. His reign is forever. Governments rise and governments fall but our God’s reign goes on and on. It never comes to an end. Further, His dominion and authority is over all things. Nations have boundaries and control only over what is within their borders. As for our God, His kingdom’s boundaries have no end. His authority is over all things. There is nothing in heaven or on earth or under the earth that is outside His authority. Lift up your gates with shouts of praise. Be lifted up you everlasting doors to the temple of the Most High for He dwells within you. Let the King of glory rule with majesty and power; wisdom and love.

I am a witness of God’s goodness and can testify that when we allow this King to have His will rule over our lives; when we surrender our will to that of the eternal One who knows the end from the beginning and who never ever goes wrong; then we shall walk in paths of life and peace. In addition we shall see His power at work within us. He shows Himself as the Lord who is strong and mighty. He defends us as our Lord, mighty in battle (Psa. 24:8). The God of the scripture reveals Himself to us as Hashem Tze’va’ot (Psa. 24:10)—the Name that is Commander of angel armies and all created things. “The name ‘I AM THAT I AM’ that proclaims Him as the absolute, independent, underived, timeless being. The name that is a covenant name. The name that speaks of the God who has come into fellowship with men and has bound Himself to a certain course of action for their blessing.” ** 

May we come to this King of glory with clean hands, a pure heart and one that has not lifted up its soul to worldly vanity nor is deceitful. May we spread out our cloak before Him in submission. May our lips constantly give praise to His glorious name. Such will receive a blessing from the Lord and vindication from God, their Saviour (Psa. 24:5 NIV). Such will witness from personal testimony that the eternal LORD of hosts, YHWH Tze’va’ot, is indeed the King of glory.      

* New Bible Commentary, Third Edition; published by Inter-varsity Press

** Adapted from MacLaren’s Exposition; biblehub.com