Friday, January 9, 2009

Blessed By Design

"In the planning of God, the plots of mankind are already part of the blueprint." Pastor Rick Baker, December 7th, 2008, Morning service Calvary Baptist Church

God had told Rebekah "your older son will serve your younger son", Genesis 25:23, just as He had told Sarah previously that she would have a son, Genesis 18:10, but neither woman fully believed God's promise. Their lack of faith is demonstrated in their taking control of their situations. Rebekah plots to have her younger son recieve the blessing, and we saw how Sarah arranged for Abraham to have a child through her servant Hagar.

When the fulfillment of God's plan didn't appear to be happening, both lost confidence in the promise. Our circumstances can sometimes overshadow the truth. It's when difficulties and concerns arise that we find ourselves in a place where faith is tested.

This faith requires surrender to God's plans. It's laying down of control and understanding the difference between letting go and presenting an offering. Letting go suggests abandoning, where an offering is a willing choice...a gift. If only both Sarah and Rebekah and presented their confusion and pain to God as a gift and waited for the fulfillment of the promise.

Abraham blessed Isaac twice. The first blessing was unwittingly done. The second blessing was by design. We can trust the blessings that God has willingly spoken over our lives. Blessings to give us a hope and a future. Blessings to guide us and be with us. Blessings that involve peace and safety. A. W. Tozer writes, "Our Lord came not to destroy but to save. Everything is safe which we commit to Him, and nothing is really safe which is not so committed." God is good and His promises sure.

Today I ask you, are you part of God's plan or human plotting? I want to encourage you not to take matters into your own hands. Only move when God moves and you too will be blessed by design.



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