II SAMUEL 23:5: “Is not my dynasty like this with God? Has he not made an eternal covenant with me, preparing every detail of it? And he has made it secure, including my complete salvation, has he not? He has been of continual help, has he not, even with respect to all of my desires?” (ISV)
OBSERVATION: Does God really have a plan for my life? Sometimes when I ponder this question, I become discouraged. How can my single, solitary, ordinary life – have a dynamic, eternal, and significant purpose? Have you ever felt that way? With billions and billions of people in the world – can I be anything more than an insignificant grain of sand in the sea of humanity
YOU BET! This is the wonderful message of the Scriptures. And we see evidence of this in the life of David. I Samuel 23 begins by noting – “This was David’s last composition…”. The man who had been called a man after God’s own heart, the shepherd that had written numerous psalms of praise, the valiant warrior that had defeated Goliath, and the Mighty King of Israel – now writes his final words. And in these words we find great encouragement for us all!
God has made an eternal covenant with you and I through Jesus Christ! You have heard it said before, but it is true – If you were the only one who would place their faith in Jesus Christ, He would have come to die just for you! Now if that is not being significant, I don’t know what is. Before the worlds were formed, you were in God’s mind and heart. And through Jesus sacrificial death and resurrection, He has established an eternal covenant with you that cannot be broken! And it is not just a “general” plan for your life. It is a “specific” and “divine” plan!
The God of all creation has deliberated, contemplated, and prepared – every intricate detail of it!
And He has not only given us a destiny, He has made this covenant and destiny for our lives secure! How has He done this? He has placed His Spirit within our hearts as His guarantee of our inheritance. This is not a guarantee that is dependent upon our works or righteousness. This is a guarantee based on His faithfulness, His unchanging nature, and His unending and all powerful love!
- Ephesians 1:14: “The Spirit is God’s guarantee that He will give us the inheritance He promised and that He has purchased us to be His own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify Him.”
And here is something that is very important! Our purpose and destiny is not something that the Lord just observes from the bleachers of our life. No – He is intimately involved every step of the way. The Holy Spirit has been given to us to bring us comfort, encouragement, and daily guidance in God’s Word! And, as we earnestly seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, He divinely orders our steps!
- Psalm 37:23-26: “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand. I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are blessed.”
David looks over his life and realizes – “He has been of continual help, has he not, even with respect to all of my desires?”
So, let’s return to the original question – “Does God really have a plan for my life?” ABSOLUTELY! Each believer, called and redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, has God’s deliberate, caring, and detailed attention. He is ordering the steps of our life, so we do not need to worry, and we do not need to break down doors in order to make things happen. All we need to do, just like the old hymn reminds us, is to –
“Trust and obey, for there is no other way, to be happy in Jesus, than to trust in obey!”
Lord, help me to trust and obey you today – as You work in me – Your dynamic, eternal, and significant purpose for my life!
In Jesus Name!