Man proposes, God disposes

You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail. Loyalty makes a person attractive. It is better to be poor than dishonest. Fear of the Lord leads to life, bringing security and protection from harm. Proverbs 19:21-23

I was driving on the freeway when I saw this bumper sticker: “DON'T FOLLOW ME . . . I'M LOST.” In Proverbs 19, King Solomon is saying that no one should be in such a hurry that he does not have time to get the understanding necessary for the well-being of his soul. To miss the way, simply because we claim not to have the time or we are set on our ways, would be great foolishness. Our rebellious attitude often causes us grief, for which we sometimes blame the Lord. Yet, we ignore the fact that God wants to guide us and lead us to a direction in life where we pursue the meaning and purpose He had set for us. We can be presumptuous and ignore God, yet it will be to our detriment if we will not commit our ways to God. To despise God’s counsel is to play the part of the fool, because he who is wise values godly instructions. God knows that whatever man may plan, and however wisely he may scheme, the counsel of the Lord is certain, and shall be duly carried out. How ineffective it is if we are going to dare to set ourselves in opposition to it! God blesses those who are willing to wait on God for instruction, obeys implicitly His counsel, and therefore works for and with Him. When Joshua succeeded Moses in leading the Israelites to the Promised Land, God told Him not to ignore His wise counsel. “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do” (Joshua 1:7-8). Our plans constantly changes; from good to better or from bad to worse. But God’s plans and purposes are unchanging. So, it is better for us to seek His plans for our lives. Our knowledge and wisdom will not surpass His. Therefore, we must listen to and accept the instruction He gives. His perfect wisdom provides sure footing for our walk of faith. The Lord Jesus Christ when asked by His disciples how they can know the way, He said to them, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Christianity is not about human philosophy nor a religious ritual nor a code of moral ethics. Christianity is to experience God’s life within through Christ Jesus. Apart from Christ there is no going, apart from Him, the Truth, there is no knowing and apart from the Christ who should be our life there is no real living. God says, follow and live for Christ and you will find rest.

Blessings