December 28 – End of Plans

        Psalm 146:3, 4 – "Do not put your trust in princes, who cannot save. When their

spirit departs, on that very day, their plans come to nothing."

        As I was reading this Psalm one day, verse 4 really jumped at me from the page. It caused me to pause and think deeply of the word "plans". That sentence has quite an obvious meaning. When I die, my plans for me will certainly end, as my eternal

beginning starts. Also, in the context of the verse, the plans belong to rulers, leaders of the nation. We are commanded to not put all our eggs in the political basket (even

though one may work toward political goals). God is the only one in whom we should place our trust.

        Obviously, there are plans currently in motion, even by people who have already died. They saw that there were money and resources to keep their plans going, after their demise. This happens quite frequently by philanthropists of all kinds, whose trusts and charities have been developed to outlast their lifetimes. Compare this idea, however, with I Corinthians 2:6-8 – "We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age nor the wisdom of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God's wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." Now, the picture becomes clearer. If my plans do not align with God's plan in this world, they will certainly end in futility, because God's plans will be accomplished (Ps. 33:11).

        The contrary is also true. If I have devised plans that align with his ways and purposes, then God may bless those and allow them to be perpetuated for his glory and for the good of mankind. Read Acts 5:33-39 for an explanation of this concept by Gamaliel, a Sanhedrin council member who spoke in favor of, apparently, wisdom and temperance, when dealing with the newly-formed group of Christians. But I believe that he understood the broader picture of God's plan of salvation; so, he was actually speaking on behalf of God's plan.

         What do you plan to do today? Is it something selfish? Is it something to help another person? Is it something to further the kingdom of God? Are you planning for an eternal future with God?

December 18 – You Are Valuable to God

         Matthew 10:31 – "So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."

        Ever wonder why we have speed limits? Or crosswalks? Or any number of other laws that restrict our free flow of movement? They are there to protect us – yes, to protect us from harming each other with large pieces of machinery (like cars). Why do we need protecting? Because we are valuable. In 2017, society sometimes thinks this way, at least for those who are not elderly, or who are already born. Think of how many legal rights and accommodations are given to the handicapped. People are thought to have intrinsic value. The ultimate reason is that we are made in God's likeness – we are valuable because he puts a high value on us, not because society assigns values to its individual segments.

       Think about these verses. Genesis 1:27, 31 states "So God made created man in his own image....God saw all that he had made, and it was very good." Psalm 139:14, 17 states, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made....how precious concerning me are your thoughts, O God!" Matthew 6:26 states, "Look at the birds of the air. They do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" Psalm 8:4, 5 states, "What is man that you are mindful of him....you made him a little lower than the heavenly beings, and crowned him with glory and honor." 1 Peter 5:6 states, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you." Finally, put these two passages together, which have even yet more bird references. Jesus says in Matthew 23:37: "O Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings." Psalm 91:4 states, "He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge."

       Are you starting to see a concept emerging, that describes us humans as having worth in God's eyes? Today, meditate on how much God loves you. Psalm 103:13, 14 – "As a father has compassion on his children, so Yahweh has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed; he remembers that we are dust."