God Has a Plan and a Purpose for Each Individual
Posted on 18 May 2001
by The Good News Lady
Did you know that His plan for you was different than His purpose? That was brought to my attention in a Bible Study and I really appreciated it because it makes it easier to understand why I there seemed to be so many purposes for us.
God’s plan is caused by God’s purpose. What is God’s purpose?
Rom 8:28-30
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (KJV)
Phil 1:6
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: (KJV)
Phil 2:13
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (KJV)
The apostle Paul establishes here the fact that God has a purpose for his followers-and that is to be conformed to Jesus’ image. God does the conforming and we become more like Jesus. Result---the honey draws the flies. God’s goodness brings not only repentance in people, but brings them to Jesus Himself.
Now what about His plan?
Jer 29:11
11 'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. (NAS)
John 12:26
26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. (KJV)
Matt 25:21
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (KJV)
Eph 2:10
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (KJV)
Eph 4:8,11-12
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (KJV)
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Rom 12:4
4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, (NAS)
Rom 12:6a
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, ……..;(KJV)
The above verses show us we have a job to do while we are here. God has a plan individually designed for each of us and within that framework we operate as His servant. And in the body of Christ there are many gifts-and we are to use those gifts for the purpose of building up, “edifying” the body of Christ. And we also have another job-
Mark 16:15
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (KJV)
You can see, when you think about it, God not only has the purpose of making us like Jesus, but also the plan set up for us as to how we may serve Him, how we may draw others to Jesus, how we may build up the body of Christ, how we are to live. God gives us our reason to live and what to do.
So if you think you are just here to wait for Him to come get you, you are missing almost half of what God has for you. You aren’t here just to live your life for yourself and your needs. He has a work for you to do, and it is some form of ministry to others. It may not be a position in the church body, it may be just being a servant to those around you-and I mean even to the unsaved. It means also finding out the ways God wants you to actively love others -putting your love from God into action.
May God’s blessings be on you as you meditate on the scriptures given you today. Have a great weekend also. The Good News Lady
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