Category Archives: Plan

Architectural floor plans with drafting tools, coffee, and rolled blueprints on a wooden table
Bible, Building, Hebrews, Plan, Salvation, Scripture

THE BUILDER OF THE HOUSE

HEBREWS 3:3

“For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by just so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house.”

I have an uncle who has been drawing house plans for well over 50 years. He is 82 and still working. He has thousands of house plans on file. Some of those have been built more than once while others were a one time job. He is very detailed and still reads the state building codes as he builds. He knows every building that is built according to one of his plans must pass by all the engineering and building codes.

We see the comparison of Jesus and Moses once again. While Moses was highly revered by all Jews, he paled in comparison to Jesus. The writer says Jesus is “counted worthy of more glory than Moses.” Moses was used by God to lead the Jewish nation at a time when they were under great distress. And although he may have given them physical salvation from the slavery of Egypt, he could not offer them spiritual salvation from the slavery of sin. That job was already taken.

ASK QUESTIONS (Command to Obey, Promise to claim, Sin to avoid, Application to make, Something new about God)

The Something new about God I see in today’s verse is the fact that Jesus is the architect of our salvation. In fact, the Greek word used here for “builder” is not the one you may expect. It’s kataskeuazó, not the normal word oikodomo, which is used for a formal, material building. The Topical Lexicon says kataskeuazó “consistently portrays purposeful preparation or construction carried out so that God’s redemptive purposes can advance unhindered. Whether the work is performed by God, by His appointed servants, or by faithful believers, each occurrence underscores His sovereign intention to ready people, places, and plans for His glory.”

In Matthew 11:10, Mark 1:2 and Luke 7:27 this word is used to describe John the Baptist by Jesus Himself. He said, “‘WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU.’” We’ll see it used five more times in Hebrews 3:4; 9:2,6; 11:7. Listen, this isn’t a sword drill competition, but I encourage you to look up each of those verses. What is the Lord saying here? I believe it is clear. Jesus doesn’t not do anything without a plan. Every action He has ever taken had a purpose. We get in the way of that when we refuse to yield to His building plan. Jesus will not force us to comply.

I have often thought how much better it would be if Jesus made all my decisions for me and all I had to do was follow afterwards. He has actually done that through His Word. Every decision we face can be guided by His Word. This, however, requires us to spend time in the Word daily. Study to show thyself approved we are told. Amen?

Thank You Lord for being the wise master builder in my life. Help me point all the glory to You.

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Bible, God's Will, Plan, Scripture, Sovereignty, Works

HE WORKS ALL THINGS

EPHESIANS 1:11

“In Him we also have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things in accordance with the plan of His will,”

It is one thing to have a certain task to complete. It is a whole other thing to be responsible for everything. That is why some people who excel in one level of management flop when moved up to a higher level. They do well managing one or two tasks, but when they are responsible for a whole department with multiple moving parts, they can’t handle it.

Aren’t you glad our God can handle it? Paul says in today’s verse, “who works all things.” God has been described by some as the universal agent. He is the one who controls everything. Albert Barnes says this about that statement, “The agency of God is seen everywhere. Every leaf, flower, rose-bud, spire of grass; every sunbeam, and every flash of lightning; every cataract and every torrent, all declare his agency; and there is not an object that we see that does not bespeak the control of an All-present God.”

APPLICATION

1 Corinthians 12:6 uses the same word. “There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.” How about Philippians 2:13? We see the word used twice there. “for it is God who is at work in you, both to desire and to work for His good pleasure.” God is at work – always. The Word says God never sleeps nor does He slumber (Psalm 121:4). He doesn’t fall asleep watching over you (unlike me when I watch tv with my wife, lol).

We can rest in the fact that God is always working in our lives to accomplish His perfect will. That’s what the end of today’s verse says – “in accordance with the plan of His will.” The word for “plan” here is boule, which means “more than God’s immutable plan of physical circumstances. It always also includes the Lord’s purpose in them.” (HELPS Word-studies) So, rest in this fact – God’s got this!

Lord, thank You for “having this.” I can rest in Your promises.

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Access, Answers, Bible, Decisions, Father, God's Will, Judgment, Love, Plan, Scripture

GOD’S MATH

EPHESIANS 1:10

“regarding His plan of the fullness of the times, to bring all things together in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.”

We probably all had that one teacher that we were scared of. Mine was Mrs. McCracken, my fourth grade math teacher. She told us all on the first day that she might turn green and fly around the room. She really said that. She was hard. I remember having to stay in from recess to recite multiplication tables. Mrs. McCracken demanded perfection. To this day I can still recite those tables, lol.

God has His own kind of math, though. Paul uses a phrase here today, “to bring all things together,”which is actually one Greek word. It’s a long one, though – anakephalaioó. It means “bring to a head, recapitulate” – head-up, summing up all the parts as a comprehensive (organized) whole.” (HELPS Word Studies). In other words, Paul is saying Christ will wrap all this up. He has finished the equation. The answer is clear.

APPLICATION

You are probably thinking Enough already with the math stuff. Sorry about that, but it is pretty plain to see. God had a plan from the very beginning. He didn’t need any “new” math to get the answer He had planned. Jesus was and still is the only answer. Go back and read verses 3-10. You need to see the whole flow (by the way, that is only four sentences, the fourth which continues through verse 12). God had a plan. God’s math always gets the right answer. That answer is Who? Jesus.

Anakephalaioóis only used twice, here in today’s verse and over in Romans 13:9 which says, “For this, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET,’ and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’”Love sums up all things. Jesus is love. Here’s a math problem for you: If God is love and Jesus is God, then Jesus is love.

If you had to “add up” your life, what would it equal? Would the negative overcome the positive? Would the hate you show outweigh the love? We need to use more of God’s math and less of ours. Recognize that all things add up in God’s eyes. He knows the plan He has for you (Jeremiah 29:11). His plans always include Jesus. How about yours?

I am so grateful You had a plan, Father, from the very beginning.

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