Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps the law, happy is he.”
3. Start with the boarder first of the BIG picture – “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed”, Proverbs 16:3
If we commit our plans to God, they will succeed because God will have His say in them, and they will succeed based on our obedience to Him. He may not agree with all of our plans, and after all He is the plan maker, we are to be His plan followers. When we can make plans within His plans then they will succeed. Because out BIG GOD has the BIG picture in mind. God put the Old Testament like the border of puzzle. Think of all the OT prophecies and laws and how the New Testament, FUL-FILS them, fully fills them. But many people, like Peter, didn’t see it. Jesus told Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men”. Peter didn’t have redemption of the world, BIG picture in mind; he didn’t want Jesus to die. Consider the Transfiguration, where Jesus was transformed, before the eyes of Peter, James and John the brother of James. Peter said, “I will put up three shelters-one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” Moses represented the Law and Elijah the prophets, but Christ previously said Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” God spoke the BIG picture out of heaven not with the emphasis on Moses, Elijah, and Jesus, but only on Jesus as He is the BIG picture of both of them, as both of them pointed to Jesus. Peter focused on all three of them, because Peter didn’t see the BIG picture of things. It’s easy to get sidetracked in life when our eyes do not stay focused on the BIG picture of things. Do the roles and responsibilities that you have point to Jesus? How do you treat your family, what kind of student are you, what kind of character do you emanate as an employer or an employee, etc…? Those people in the Tsunami disaster were going to die anyway one day, it was tragic because so many died perhaps earlier than they would have and all at once. The BIG picture is that whichever way we die; we will all stand in judgment before the KING.
4. God has called us to live within the BIG picture in mind- Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed – Proverbs 15:22
Plans fail for lack of counsel, because many people don’t receive counsel or advisors in their lives. Do you have a board of directors of mature believers in your life who advise you about your life? Can these see the purposes of God connected to your life? God’s purposes are: to give God pleasure in worship, to be part of God’s family in fellowship with other believers (genuine care), to become like Jesus and be discipled and make disciples, to use our gift and abilities to serve God in ministry, and to fulfill out His mission to evangelize the lost. Are you doing these things? Is the life you are living answering the question: What on earth am I here for?
These purposes should be connected to your family, job, school, relationship, recreation, entertainment, etc…. Why, because living God’s purpose as the focal point, gives your whole life meaning and purpose.
Application: Is your life within the borders of God’s plan for your life? Are you living each of God’s purposes in your life? Are there advisors in your life to ask if that is true? Give yourself an honest self-evaluation and ask your advisors what they see. Blessings Pastor Phil
He Has Magnified His Word 