My favorite preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, did a sermon on God’s plan for our future. Read his whole message here.
“I believe that nothing happens apart from divine determination and decree. Even the little things in life are not overlooked by the all-seeing eyes.”
“God’s Will about the Future”
Charles H. Spurgeon, 1892
God’s got his eye on you.
Last week we saw the movie, “The Insanity of God” (it will shown again, 7 PM on September 13, in theaters across the country–learn more about it here).
Persecuted Christians were asked: “Is Jesus worth it?”
The joy on their faces answered the question.
Yet here we are in America, land of the free, hiding our faith under a bushel lest we offend someone. We take no risk.
Here’s a question for you: is your popularity, your security, your happy-go-lucky reputation worth it? Is it worth denying Christ?
My plans were in place for a women’s Bible study on the Trinity. First lesson ready to go. Second lesson, started, then trashed. Started over, stuck again.
I prayed. Silence.
We went to the movie, “The Insanity of God” (it was powerful). There was a passing comment about a Bible study on the book of Acts. Just one sentence, not essential to the movie.
I sensed God saying, That’s it. Acts. I nodded, and concentrated on the movie. While the credits rolled, I wondered, Acts? Really?
Again, I felt the rumble, Acts.
Acts it is.
Church under Construction, A Study of the Book of Acts.
(in person on 1st & 3rd Saturdays, starting September 17,
and posted on this website)
Think about a time when God changed your plans.
Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
When have you heard God say, Turn here?
(I heard it last Tuesday. I’ll tell you about it tomorrow.)
Imagine that every word you spoke yesterday fell to the floor. Sweep them into three piles: kind words, angry words, neutral words. “Please pass the salt” counts as neutral (polite does not equal kind).
Which pile is bigg
est?
Amy Wilson Carmichael (1867–1951), missionary to India, is best known for her work rescuing young women from forced prostitution. Her wisdom still applies:
“For a cup brimful of sweet water cannot spill even one drop of bitter water, however suddenly jolted.”
It is easy to think that words just fade into the air. Without consequences. But those words have power I don’t see. They leave tracks in our brains–for good or evil. Blessings or curses.
James 3:10 (NIV)
Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing.
My brothers and sisters, this should not be.
Oh Lord, forgive my stubborn, hurtful words.
Psalm 19:14
May these words of my mouth . . .
be pleasing in your sight,
LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
I am reading a book, Thirty Million Words: Building a Child’s Brain, on the importance of early language development.
I learned that words aren’t just essential to communication, they set up neural pathways that define future aptitude. Think of the first three years: a baby with no words becomes that toddler with a thousands whats and whys.
John 1:1 (NIV)
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
Beginning . . . Word . . . God. It’s God’s glorious plan to start us off with words.
As I get older, things get harder. How about you?
I thought about my “senior moments,” when I can’t find the word I want. I know it would be almost impossible to learn a new language at my age. I asked, Why, Lord, does it get harder as I get older?
It is easier for you to hear me.
Indeed. To God be the glory!
