Your plans and His

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “The Great Adventure”

Our Bible verse for today: “But now I no longer have any work to do in these regions, and I have strongly desired for many years to come to you whenever I travel to Spain. For I hope to see you when I pass through and be assisted by you for my journey there, once I have enjoyed your company for a while.” Romans 15:23-24 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Your plans and His”

This morning, I want us to continue thinking about our subject from yesterday about the importance of having goals and plans. It’s essential for us to have goals and plans. Otherwise, we will just be wandering through the days of our lives without direction or purpose. But with that said, we must also stay attentive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and be willing to adjust our plans as necessary to stay in the center of God’s will.

A couple of weeks ago, on Sunday August 25^th at Oak Hill Baptist Church, I preached a sermon from Romans 15:22-33 about this very thing. The example was how the Apostle Paul both made his own plans for his ministry activities, but then also adjusted as necessary depending on how the Spirit was leading day-by-day and moment-by-moment. I want to summarize that lesson here this morning but if you would be interested in hearing the full teaching on the passage, visit the Oak Hill Baptist Church YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville. Then click on the sermon for August 25^th.

In Romans 15:20-21 Paul noted that his long-term mission, given to him by God, was to be a pioneering evangelist and church-planter. “My aim is to preach the gospel where Christ has not been named, so that I will not build on someone else’s foundation, but, as it is written, Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.”

So, understanding his long-term assignment, Paul’s plan for those years was to travel to wherever the Holy Spirit led him. However, in verse 22 we find that during those same years Paul also had a strong desire to go to Rome, but the Spirit kept diverting him, “That is why I have been prevented many times from coming to you.” That then leads us to verse 23 (above) where we discover that Paul had finally completed the long-term assignment given to him by God and he was now going to get to go to Rome after all.

The lesson for us to draw from Paul’s example is that we are to prayerfully make plans of our own and we are to boldly and confidently walk forward into the future fulfilling those plans. But at the same time, we are to stay sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and we are to adjust our plans as necessary so we remain in sync with God’s plans for us.

In the days to come we will explore this more fully and learn how to both make our own plans and follow His at the same time.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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