What's Your Plan?

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:35-40 ESV). Plans are important. Since we are in the midst of construction, I am forced to be aware of the overall plans before I do any significant “projects.” I have begun the boardwalk down to the pool from the main house. Normally I would just picture the final project in my mind and start building to that. Unfortunately that doesn’t work well in the whole scope of the project. There’s just too much going on to forge ahead without a plan. I am reminded that God created the world with a very specific plan in mind. Our reading today clearly shows that God’s plan centers on Jesus Christ. Jesus was not some afterthought from God. It was not as if God was somehow surprised by the development of the world he created. Our sin did not catch God off guard. Jesus left the riches of heaven to be born in a manger in Bethlehem. From the manger in Bethlehem his life led rather quickly, after thirty-three years or so, to his death at Calvary. Along the way, Jesus attracted a remarkable, at times motley, cast of characters. There are the Pharisees and Sadducees, the disciples, the sinners, tax collectors, and prostitutes, and the crowds that flocked to see this man called Jesus. God’s plan does center on Jesus Christ, but God’s plan also extends to us. Jesus poured his life into the twelve disciples. But in Matthew 28, after Jesus’ resurrection, Jesus appears to his disciples again and commissions them with carrying out God’s further plan. He entrusts his followers with the responsibility and authority to finish what has begun. This is an incredible thought for me. From the Great Commission, to the Holy Spirit’s release on Pentecost and the birth of the church, to us today, God’s plan involves us specifically and intentionally. We are called to play an active role in God’s master plan. There’s a great satisfaction to know that you’ve had a role in the building of your home. How much more should we be amazed that God wants us directly involved in the building of His Church? That’s His plan. What’s your plan?