The Story – Chapter 29 – Romans 15:23-33

Your Future - God’s Plan

　
When I was in college my friend Ken shared Campus Crusades’ "Four Spiritual Laws" with me. The first law is that "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life". When he shared that with me I believed it fully even though I had no idea what it meant for my future.

Paul had no idea what it meant for his future either. In Romans 15, Paul writes that he is really looking forward to coming to Rome to visit. First though, he must go to Jerusalem to deliver a contribution to the poor from the churches in Macedonia and Achaia. Paul asks the Romans to pray that he be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea.

However, when he gets to Jerusalem the Jews aroused the whole city against him so much so that a mob formed and began to beat him crying out for him to be killed. The only thing that saved his life was someone notified the Roman troops. But, they arrested him and bound him in chains. I don’t think Paul had that in mind when he was planning to deliver the donation.

Despite this, God loved Paul and had a wonderful plan for his life. He used this series of events to get Paul to Rome. Maybe not exactly the way Paul thought it would happen, but it was happening. Paul uses this as an opportunity to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ.

In fact, Acts 28:31 says that, "He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ – with all boldness and without hindrance". Those are the last words of Acts. Paul was in Rome to do what he had wanted to do and planned to do – and he was doing it

When Ken shared with me that "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life", it didn’t mean that there would never be heartache or difficult times. It didn’t mean that life’s struggles would pass me by. What it did mean and still does mean, is that God loves me and will never leave me.

So what is God’s plan for your future? There’s really no way of knowing of course. The one thing though that we do know is that God loves you and will always be with you. It doesn’t matter what terrible circumstance happens to you or what shameful sin you might commit. God loves you and nothing can take that away. You can plan your future on it.

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