Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

September 18
Wednesday


GOD HAD
OTHER PLANS

READ:
1 Peter 1:1-9
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A man's heart plans
his way, but the LORD
directs his steps.
__Proverbs 16:9
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My friend Linda grew up planning to become a medical missionary. She loves the Lord and wanted to serve Him as a doctor by taking the gospel to sick people in parts of the world where medical care is hard to find. But God had other plans. Linda has indeed become a medical missionary, but not the way she expected.

At age 14, Linda developed a chronic health problem that required her to be hospitalized for major surgery several times a year. She survived bacterial meningitis that left her in a coma for 2 weeks and blind for 6 months. She once celebrated two birthdays in a row in the hospital__without going home in between. She has had several experiences when she was not expected to live. but yet Linda is the most vibrant, grateful, and cheerful person you will ever meet. She once told me that her mission field, as she hoped and planned, is the hospital. But instead of serving God as a doctor, she serves Him as a patient. No matter how sick she is, the light of the Lord radiates from her.

Linda exemplifies the teaching of the apostle Peter. Despite her trials, she rejoices, and the genuineness of her faith brings "praise, honor, and glory" to Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:6-7). __Julie Ackerman Link

`````````````Lord, I'm so thankful that no matter where```````````````
```````````we are, we can serve You. Help me to reflect``````````````
```````````````Your image in my current situation, even``````````````
````````````````if it's not where I hoped I would be. `````````````````
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Write you plans in pencil and remember that
God has the eraser.

*******************Today's Bible Reading __ 1 Peter 1:1-9***************************

1 Peter , an apostle of Jesus
Christ,
To the pilgrims of the
Dispersion in Pontus,
Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia,
and Bitthynia, 2 elect
according to the
forknowledge of God the
Father, in sanctification of
the Spirit, for obedience and
sprinkling of the blood of
Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace be
multiplied.

3 blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus
christ, who according to
His abundant mercy has
begotten us again to a living
hope through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ
from the dead, 4 to an
inheritance incorruptible
and undefiled and that does
not fade away, reserved in
heaven for you 5 who are
kept by the power of God
through faith for salvation
ready to be revealed in the
last time.

6 In this you greatly
rejoice, though now for a
little while, if need be, you
have been grieved by
various trials, 7 that the
genuineness of your faith,
being much more precious
than gold that perishes,
though it is tested by fire,
may be found to praise,
honor, and glory at the
revelation of Jesus Christ,

8 whom having not seen you
love. Though now you do
not see Him, yet believing,
you rejoice with joy
inexpressible and full of
glory, 9 receiving the end of
your faith__the salvation of
your souls.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

In today's reading, Peter references the doctrine of election . The
recipients of his letter are called "elect," chosen of God. They have
been given this status by God the Father through His foreknowledge.
God's sovereign choice and human response work together through
the sanctification of the Spirit to result in obedience (v.2).