God Has Plans for Those He Has Chosen
“As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, the commander ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and interrogated in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this. As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, ‘Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?’” - Acts 22:23-25
Jeremiah 29:11 tells us, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” God has a plan for every believer. God’s plan for Paul was that of a pioneer missionary to the Gentiles. As Paul revealed his witness of Christ to those who wanted to take his life, one would expect a happy ending. That is, those hearing would repent and give their hearts to Christ. However, the same sun that softens the wax also hardens the clay. Tragically, the linchpin of Paul’s speech was that God would offer the same salvation to the Gentiles that He would to a Jew. This greatly offended the crowd. In their way of thinking, only the Jews were “chosen.” All others were unworthy of salvation. In truth, none of us deserve salvation—it is all of grace (Ephesians 2:8, 9). Yet, the chosen people of the Old Testament were kept from salvation because of their prejudice toward Gentiles and loyalty to their traditions.
God has a personal plan for you. We all have a niche in which we best bring glory to God. He has given us talents, gifts, experience and burdens that point the way to His special will for our lives. We need to set aside preconceived ideas and traditions to embrace His plan for us. What is God’s plan for you? What will give you a future and a hope?
Jeremiah 29:11 tells us, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” God has a plan for every believer. God’s plan for Paul was that of a pioneer missionary to the Gentiles. As Paul revealed his witness of Christ to those who wanted to take his life, one would expect a happy ending. That is, those hearing would repent and give their hearts to Christ. However, the same sun that softens the wax also hardens the clay. Tragically, the linchpin of Paul’s speech was that God would offer the same salvation to the Gentiles that He would to a Jew. This greatly offended the crowd. In their way of thinking, only the Jews were “chosen.” All others were unworthy of salvation. In truth, none of us deserve salvation—it is all of grace (Ephesians 2:8, 9). Yet, the chosen people of the Old Testament were kept from salvation because of their prejudice toward Gentiles and loyalty to their traditions.
God has a personal plan for you. We all have a niche in which we best bring glory to God. He has given us talents, gifts, experience and burdens that point the way to His special will for our lives. We need to set aside preconceived ideas and traditions to embrace His plan for us. What is God’s plan for you? What will give you a future and a hope?
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