Sticking to the Plan

We are on a spiritual high when we feel in every fiber of our being that we have heard the voice and the Lord and we have been given an assignment.  Every assignment has a set of instructions, especially with God.  God likes order.  So, we have our assignment and we have been given express instructions to accomplish a specific task. We’re motivated, excited and ready to be used by God!  We hope to successfully accomplish the tasks that we set out to do.

However, sometimes even our most well intended motives are either misunderstood, we realize that they changed somewhere along the way, or we allow ourselves to be detoured. Everyone usually has an agenda when they endeavor to do something; whether it is conscious or unconscious.  Pleasing God should be at the top of that list.

Whether we are sharing the Gospel with someone who is lost or we are interacting with other members of the Body of Christ it is important not to allow our motives or instructions to be changed.  Anything can cause us to waver in our intent.  We may become concerned about a particular individual or groups’ opinion or their feelings.  Someone may suggest something that seems to be a great addition to our plan so we alter the original plan.  Yes, it is important to be compassionate but, not at the cost of a soul–ours or theirs.  Our message must not become watered down. It’s in the details.

Take for example the man of God from Judah (1 Kings 13).  God had given him specific instructions as to what he should do after he spoke with King Jeroboam.  He was not to eat or drink anything while on his mission (1 Kings 13:9) nor was he to return home by the way he came.  After successfully resisting an offer of a fine meal with the king which included a gift, because of his instructions, the man of God made his way to another route.  Along the way he allowed himself to be deceived by a seemingly well intended old prophet.(1 Kings 13:18)  The prophet claimed that an angel came to him by the Word of the Lord and instructed him to take the man of God back to his home for a meal.  The man of God lost his life as a result of not sticking to the plan.

The man of God from Judah died because he listened to someone claiming to have a message from God rather than God himself.  We often alter the plan because someone has a “Word from the Lord” that seems easier than the instructions God gave us, their idea has a detail that intrigues us. The TRUTHS of God many times DO NOT feel good or are not what we want to believe, BUT they ARE the Truths of God never the less. Feelings do not count, compliance with scripture and obedience to it are the only things that count.

A few points we can apply to following instructions are:

• God is not the author of confusion. We will never receive mixed messages from God or any message that contradicts His Word from Him.
• Every good idea is not a God idea.  Everything that glitters is not gold.  Just because it sounds good doesn’t mean it is good or good for us.
• Follow the instructions that God has given to you. Just because we have seen it work for someone else it may not be God’s will for us. Each believer is given a gift(s) and some of us may have the same gift.  However, our method of application may be different or our focus is different.
• Test everything against the Word of God. Any messages received should stand when tested with the Word.  God can speak to you just as well as he can anyone else if you are willing to listen.
• STICK TO THE PLAN! When you are certain of your instructions do not lean to your own understanding or anyone else’s for that matter.  God requires obedience of all that he employs.  One act of disobedience cost Moses his entrance into the promised land!  All of the things he had previously done did not matter.  He failed to trust God’s direction.

We must insure at all costs that we do not alter or change the plans or instructions that God has given to us.  It could cost us more than we are willing to pay in the long run.

Remember, the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and he delighteth in his way.  Psalm 37:23 KJV

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