Following the Plan

At work, I am responsible for creating various plans for people to follow. Most of these are based on past experience of what it takes to be successful. I tell the teams that if they will follow the plan and don't allow anyone to sidetrack them, they'll be successful in their project. Those that do follow the plan usually are successful, unless some outside force changes things. Those that don't follow the plan often have trouble.

But I'm only human. Sometimes I put things in plans that really aren't the best thing for the project due to oversight or a lack of knowledge on my part. There is a plan, however, that's perfect. God has a plan for our lives that will result in what is best for us all of the time. He has the best plan for our families, with a husband and wife who are committed to each other for life, raising their children in a loving environment. He has the best plan for supporting His people, with a group of local believers organized into congregations under the oversight of Christ-committed elders, with each of us looking out for and taking care of each other. He has the best plan for dealing with conflict, which starts with the individuals involved working it out with each other before bringing other people into it. And He has a plan for saving our souls, sending His own Son to die for our sins and giving us a home in heaven if we will only give our lives to Him in humble obedience.

In so many areas of our lives, God has a plan. And it's perfect. It's up to us to follow it.

Have a great week, and keep following the plan.

(From the Johnson Street Youth Group Trumpeter, 2/17/08)