25 June 2015 - sand plans

Abram shows us an example of pursuing God's plan the wrong way. The right way is for him to have a child through Sarai. But this seems to Abram to be increasingly unlikely so he and Sarai resort to involving Hagar. This does not lead to the LORD's plan being fulfilled and instead results in increasing violence and mistrust. Yet even with these results we might imagine Abram saying, 'Lord, Lord'. He may well assert that he is doing the LORD's work and trying to carry out his plans.

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the Kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.

Abram and Sarai might well say, 'Lord, did we not try to carry out your plan for us?' But at this stage of their faith journey Jesus might well reply solemnly, 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.'

How easy it is to substitute the LORD's plans with our own. These plans are built on sand. We hear the words of Jesus but do not act on them. Perhaps we have the same goals but go about them in the wrong way. Perhaps we are trying to use the gifts we have been given (e.g. prophesy, driving out demons, and mighty deeds) for our own purposes rather than the LORD's. We see in the person of Ishmael that plans built on this sort of sand will never fulfill God's plans for us. The results are partial and imperfect. They do not survive the rains of floods of this life.

Blessed are they who observe what is right,
who do always what is just.
Remember us, O LORD, as you favor your people.

We need to listen to the words of Jesus and act upon them. We need to build on rock, acting for his purposes with his methods and gifts. When we listen and act we unleash the blessings which the LORD intends for the world. These blessings are unshakable built on the rock of Christ.

Visit me with your saving help,
that I may see the prosperity of your chosen ones,
rejoice in the joy of your people,
and glory with your inheritance.

Let us listen so intently that we find ourselves astonished, "for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes." May this astonishment drive us to act and to build our whole lives on rock secure in the plans of God.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.