Tag Archives: Plan

September 4, 2018

The True Hope for the Future

For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.
Proverbs 23:18, KJV

Surely there is a future [and a reward], And your hope and expectation will not be cut off.
Proverbs 23:18 AMP

One of the most misappropriated verses in the Bible is Jeremiah 29:11,

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord , “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

The reason thos verse is so misapplied to lives is that many people tend to think God will never let them suffer but only prosper.

The full context of this verse is that God is sending Israel into exile as punishment for breaking His covenant! He orchestrated suffering!

But it was for a future glory!

Using the two different translations today was for showing how rich today’s verse is.

We need the reminder that there is a tomorrow. Today’s struggles are temporary, because the future is coming.

That future may have problems. In fact, God also told us that a great time of suffering will happen before the Lord’s return.

But the temporal future has an end, when Jesus returns!

Just as Jeremiah reminded us, there will be suffering, but God has a plan! Yes, things will get bad, but remember that He holds the future. This gives us hope!

Trust in Jesus, and the future holds our reward of eternal friendship and peace.

Leave a comment | tags: Book of Proverbs, End of the World, Eternal life, Eternity, future, hope, Jeremiah, Plan, Reward, struggles | posted in hope, Trust the Lord

April 12, 2018

Make Insight Your Priority

By Michael Wilson

I have priorities. I have plans. I love to plan. But, do I have the right priorities? There is a difference.

Insight should be my top priority. I must search for the direction God wants me to go. Jesus challenges me to love. I need insight on how to do it. It isn’t always clear to me.

There is a treasure for me to find. I must search like an adventurer. I must be on a quest to gain insight.

“Fear-of-God” keeps me on course. It is easy for me to wander off and lose focus.

That’s right—if you make Insight your priority,
    and won’t take no for an answer,
Searching for it like a prospector panning for gold,
    like an adventurer on a treasure hunt,
Believe me, before you know it Fear-of-God will be yours;
    you’ll have come upon the Knowledge of God. ~King Solomon – Source: Proverbs 2:1-5 (The Message Bible)

Insight is the spiritual quality that enables a person to appreciate God’s mind and will in matters of behavior, truth, and providence, especially where right perception is not obvious. Insight is akin to wisdom and understanding. It is given by God and is to be sought by believers.

Insight is given by God. That is a huge thing for us as believers. That is some very good news. God loves to give me insight. I must make it a priority.

Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. | 2 Timothy 2:7 (NASB)

Jesus gives us insight through His teaching. How can I understand the scriptures? It is through the Holy Spirit and what Jesus says to me! Jesus will open my mind. Jesus will explain everything to me. Understanding can be mine in Jesus.

Luke 24:45–47 (NASB) — Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”

Luke 24:27 (NASB) — Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.

Matthew 16:12 (NASB) — Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Now, this is really sweet! God is so very good. If I want insight, all I have to do is ask. Our God is so very generous.