Acts 15:18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

Proverb 16:9 A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.

Don’t you love it when a plan comes together? Likewise, how frustrating is it when your best laid plans fall apart? Those are human experiences and human emotions. That has nothing to do with our God, the creator and the one perfect in order and performance. Nothing frustrates God’s planning, nothing.

It is beyond our human ability to see all the variables that might play out in any given set of circumstances, much less all of them for all time. That is why God is God and we are not. God knew before He spoke one word into creation all that would happen until the end of time.

Given that God is eternal and time is not an issue for God, how many plans did God scrap before He settle the one we are living out in time? If God chose this plan, isn’t that preordained in the sense that He scrapped all the other plans in favor of this one? Is that too much for you to wrap your mind around? I don’t blame you. It just occurred to me for the first time just now.

Does that make this thought true? No, but I have to ask myself, if God is perfect in performance, wouldn’t His planning of creation also be perfect? Given that He is perfect, what happens with us?

If God directs your steps then the only option left to us is one of awareness and attitude. Awareness comes from knowing God and attitude is developed in relationship.

Psalm 27:13  I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Are you going to see God’s goodness or walk around blindly?

Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

For the past week I have been touching on several aspects of our relationship with God. Yesterday I spoke about being tested and the fact that only Jesus got it perfect. I’m not Jesus. I am not Lord. I will never get it perfect in this life. Nevertheless, that does not mean I should stop trying to past the tests.

I did not want to leave you with the impression that failure is inevitable. It is part of growth however. Paul’s point here in Romans about sin and grace is meant to encourage us to want to try harder. The issue of grace received, if it remains upon us, does not complete the intended cycle. We are meant to be God’s extension of grace but this cannot happen if we do not grow up into Him who saved us.

2 Peter 3:17-16 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

1 Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Ephesians 4:14-16 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Born of the spirit and meant to grow.