GOD’S PERFECT PLAN
Acts 9:3-5, 8, 15
(3) And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
(4)And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
(5) And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
(8) And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
(15)But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Found on the road of despair, the road of ruin and dishonor, Paul was chosen by God’s own hand to bear the name of Jesus unto the Gentiles. It was the Lord who interrupted his life that day on the road to Damascus. It was at this moment that Paul’s life changed forever more, for he encountered Jesus for the first time face-to-face. One cannot be in the presence of Jesus and be left unchanged, unmarked, or unclean, Hallelujah! It was not a friend that Jesus chose that day, but it was an enemy that HE confronted, one of HIS foes that HE called to do HIS work. Jesus chooses us not on the basis of our heart toward HIM, but HE chooses us based on HIS heart toward us. God reaches out with HIS mighty hand, with HIS infinite wisdom, and HIS glorious providence and places HIS eternal mark upon us and our lives are never the same. The mark of salvation that will bear the name of Jesus, God’s only begotten Son, Savior of the world, Lamb of glory, Rose of Sharon, Lion of Judah, Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star, Alpha and Omega, the soon and coming King! This mark separates us from every other person, from every other created thing upon the earth. My friend, HIS touch upon our lives will place us and our feet upon new roads, upon the narrow road that few travel.
The touch from God we receive in salvation, is a touch that even the angels know nothing about, for it is a mark of the redeemed! The angels do not bear the mark of HIS touch neither can they sing salvation’s song as we can. Christian friend, a heart with God’s touch of salvation can no longer follow its own road, but it must follow the new road, embracing the plan that God has, and forsaking the old one. Now the NEW road, is an OLD PATH…but it is NEW to the one who has been saved and chose to walk in newness of life. Just as God had a plan for Paul’s life, a mission for him to carry out, HE has so much for you and I to do. A mission is only as great as the vision of the one leading it. Wherever God calls HE also leads and provides and where HE leads, those who follow will never find failure. Are you content to do and go wherever the Lord may lead you, caring NOT of the place that may be??? Oh that we all would take a moment and imagine that day when we stand before The King and HE says to us, WELL DONE THOU GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT!!! With all that is within me, I want Jesus to say to me….WELL DONE SON, I gave you my orders, and my plan…and although many times you faltered, you got back on course and you finished the race that I gave you. Well Hallelujah! That does something for me dear friend. What marvelous plans God has for you, what great unseen purpose that will be unfolded in all its splendor in heaven on that day when we meet Jesus face-to-face. This wondrous and divine plan written out by the hand of God, just for you. Today, no matter what road you are on or direction you are headed, it is never too late to get on the right course. It’s my prayer before this day comes to an end that you KNOW and SURRENDER to GOD’S PERFECT PLAN for your life.
Bro. Lawrence Longworth
Isaiah 61:1 “the opening of the prison to them that are bound;”
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