God's Plan Trumped All That
Now it came about in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. -- Luke 2:1
A decree went out.....
Just what is a decree, anyway?
According to google, a decree is an official order issued by a legal authority. When a decree is issued, what the person in authority says in that decree goes. No questions. No negotiation. It is stated, therefore it is.
Except when it comes to God.
The world can say what it may, order what it may, but it doesn't trump what God says. He is the final authority. He issued the ultimate decree. He sometimes even uses decrees issued by man to accomplish His plan.
Caesar issued a decree that took Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, but God used a decree issued by a man to fulfill a prophecy. You see, God had decreed something about Bethlehem seven hundred years earlier, before Caesar Augustus had taken his first breath.....
Just what is a decree, anyway?
According to google, a decree is an official order issued by a legal authority. When a decree is issued, what the person in authority says in that decree goes. No questions. No negotiation. It is stated, therefore it is.
Except when it comes to God.
The world can say what it may, order what it may, but it doesn't trump what God says. He is the final authority. He issued the ultimate decree. He sometimes even uses decrees issued by man to accomplish His plan.
Caesar issued a decree that took Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, but God used a decree issued by a man to fulfill a prophecy. You see, God had decreed something about Bethlehem seven hundred years earlier, before Caesar Augustus had taken his first breath.....
But as for you, Bethlehem, Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity. --Micah 5:2
Bethlehem wasn't much in terms of a town. It was tiny, barely on the map. How like our God to pick a small, unlikely little town to host the birth of the King. It did not matter what man had decreed, God's plan trumped all of that.
The world may say things about you, it may label you with things that you are not proud of, decree things about you that make you feel small, insignificant, non-usable. But the world doesn't get to give the final decree about you.
God's plan trumps all that.
God issued decrees about you long before you drew your first breath...
He decreed that
He loves you alot...
The world may say things about you, it may label you with things that you are not proud of, decree things about you that make you feel small, insignificant, non-usable. But the world doesn't get to give the final decree about you.
God's plan trumps all that.
God issued decrees about you long before you drew your first breath...
He decreed that
He loves you alot...
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life -- John 3:16
You are an heir...
Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? -- James 2:5
With Him you can accomplish anything...
I can do all things through Him strengthens me. -- Philippians 4:13
He will destroy the work of the enemy...
....The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil. -- 1 John 3:9
You are His friend...
No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends... --John 15:15
You aren't the old you, you are brand new, no matter what the world says...
Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold new things have come. -- 2 Corinthians 5:17
If you believe nothing else, believe what this verse says about you...
.....if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved...Romans 10:9
and what this one promises you...
...And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed. --Romans 9:33
No matter what the world decrees about us, what God says is the final authority. When we believe in Him, we will not be disappointed. Our sixth gift in this December to Remember.
God - Not disappointed? This life is riddled with disappointments, it's just part of living and we expect some disappointments, so to think that I will not be disappointed in You is a much welcomed change, Father. The world will disappoint me, but You will not. As your child, I have much to look forward to and I trust what you have decreed in Romans 9:33, that I will not be disappointed. It will all be worth the wait. Thank you for the gift of anticipating what being with you will be like. We all have known times that we anticipated a gift only to unwrap it and be disappointed, but that will not be the case with You. It makes me even more excited for the day I will meet You face to face.
God - Not disappointed? This life is riddled with disappointments, it's just part of living and we expect some disappointments, so to think that I will not be disappointed in You is a much welcomed change, Father. The world will disappoint me, but You will not. As your child, I have much to look forward to and I trust what you have decreed in Romans 9:33, that I will not be disappointed. It will all be worth the wait. Thank you for the gift of anticipating what being with you will be like. We all have known times that we anticipated a gift only to unwrap it and be disappointed, but that will not be the case with You. It makes me even more excited for the day I will meet You face to face.
