|
|
 | | From: | rhuff163 | | Subject: | How Paul's plans changed | | Date: | Wed, 19 Jan 2005 05:10:44 GMT |
|
|
 | Devotional Guide For the week of January 16, 2005
CHRISTIAN DUTY
How Paul's plans changed
To Read: Zechariah 1-3
To Know:
" I want you to know, brethren, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles." (Rm. 1:13)
Being forced to change plans is rarely ever fun. Being forced to do anything feels like a deathblow. My original discharge from active duty was scheduled for October 18, 1961. Because I joined the army on October 18, 1958, I was due for discharge on the same day in 1961. In peacetime the army was liberal in granting early discharges. An "early out" was allowed me in order to enroll at Texas Western University. The month before my new discharge date the Soviets walled in the East Berliners. The Pentagon feared that the U.S.S.R. was preparing to invade Western Europe. Whenever Nikita Khrushchev wanted to make America scream, he squeezed Berlin; but a wall across the city was more than a nuisance.
President Kennedy went into action. The leader of the free world decided not to discharge any serviceman with world war threatening the West. Within eighteen hours of hearing from the president that I was to serve another year in the army, I heard from Jesus Christ that my sin was forgiven. Hidden inside the worst news I had heard in my life was the greatest good news anyone on earth can ever hear. Today I praise God for changing my plans.
God changed Paul's plan to visit Rome so he wrote them a letter instead. A visit would have blessed the Romans but his letter has blessed the whole world. A study of history shows that Paul's letter to the Romans has been the age long instrument of the Holy Spirit to call people out of darkness into light. This letter has demonstrated remarkable power to reach into Satan's domain to rescue sinners and make them citizens of heaven.
To Do:
Should we not submit all our plans to the Lord?
01195$-01195
|
|
|