Daily Devotional for Sunday December 9, 2012
Does God Really Have a Plan and Purpose for My Life
(Acts 26:16-18)
***ASK BILL: Pastor Bill, I attended a Messianic Jewish church for four years and really loved it as when you hear and understand the Jewish traditions behind scriptures, it can really open up the scripture for you and make more sense, at least for me. My question is this, the Jewish church is against cremation and stresses that you should have a regular burial, casket etc. Is there any scripture in the Bible that states one should not be cremated?
ANSWER: How to dispose of a dead body is a cultural issue. The Bible mandates that from the dust we came and to the dust we will return. There is NOTHING in the Bible that states a body must be buried, nor is there anything that prohibits cremation. Here is a link to a Devotional on this very issue in great detail. http://www.liveprayer.com/ddarchive3.cfm?id=1025
One of the most asked questions I get each day is "does God really have a plan and purpose for my life?" Let me assure you that there are no accidents, no coincidences with God. The One who created the universe and everything in it, did not just create us in His image to drift from birth to death with no purpose. Those who understand science will tell you that the incredible perfection of creation could never have happened by "chance."
Years ago, a dear friend of mine who came to know Christ because of the irrefutable evidence we have from science, told me that the creation of the universe and the incredible precision it takes to operate properly could have never "just happened by accident." He said it would be the equivalent of taking an expensive, finely tuned Swiss watch apart, throwing in the air the thousands of pieces that make up the watch, and having it land with every piece in its place and the watch working perfectly.
My friend, the universe did not just happen, God created it. You did not just happen, God created you. God did not just create all of this because He was bored, there is a Divine plan and purpose for everything, including your life!
The scripture today is God revealing to Paul the plan He had for his life. Most of us will never have a Damascus Road experience where God audibly calls down to us and gives us the exact plan for our life. However, as we are surrendered to His will, He will move us, position us, exactly where He wants us. He will open and close doors to guide us where He wants us to be.
As you are surrendered to Him and His plan, there are no accidents where you live, work, go to school, or recreate. It is not an accident who your neighbors are or the people that are in your life. God strategically places us where He wants us to be, as His instruments, so we can do our part in fulfilling His master plan.
The key that you need to hear today is you must be surrendered to Him. If we rebel against God, if we don't listen to Him, if we do it our way and not His way, then His plan for our life will never be fulfilled. That is the choice we have to make each day. To live life our way, or His way.
When we choose our way, we can try, try, and try, and life never seems to work out. We may be successful in one area, but miserable in others. You see, when we do it God's way, He takes into consideration ALL areas of our life. Our work, finances, relationships, health, service to Him, recreation, He has every area of our life taken care of.
That is why some people you see may have a great plan for their finances and be very successful by the world's standards, but totally fail in their marriage or as a parent. Or some may have a great homelife but are always struggling in their career. The point is, when you are doing it your way, there is a fatal flaw, it is your plan, not His.
I love you and care about you so much. I will be praying for you to fully surrender your life each day to God. Surrendering to Him is the key to finding God's plan and purpose for your life. TRUST HIM! He will never let you down, He will never disappoint you, just love you and bless you each day. God has a perfect plan and purpose for your life!
In His love and service, Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller