For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?32He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
Have you ever felt afraid of making the wrong decisions in life? Have you ever thought, "If I choose this, I might mess up God's plan for my life"? Or "What if I take a risk and God doesn't pull through for me?"
These are all questions that have shown their ugly head in the past couple weeks. And let's call them what they are: fear-based questions that don't take into account the true nature of God. As I am taking more risks towards my destiny and calling, I feel spiritual resistance coming on heavy and strong. I have thought to myself that what I am doing is either going to fly or it's going to flop. Fear of flopping has crept in to try to paralyze me. Fear says, "If you just stay where you are, you will not flop. If you take those risks, you will surely fail. Just stay where it is comfortable and secure." This thought is deceiving though because it is stealing away hope for the future that God has already planned for me (Jeremiah 29:11). The question at hand is, do I really trust him enough to not only keep me from flopping, but to launch me into the air to soar like an eagle? Do I really believe that He is good enough, and GOD enough to do that?
The only answer that I can have to this question is a resounding YES! Just like Romans 8 states,
"If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with Him graciously give us all things?"
I feel like I can feast on those words for a lifetime. Jesus is the prize, and with Jesus comes all things by the operational power (aka grace) of God. If God is good enough to do THAT, then he is good enough to do all of the above.
God predestined us to be conformed to the likeness of Christ (after all, in Genesis mankind was created in the image of God). He is in the process of restoring mankind to the original Glory for which we were created (Romans 3:23 man fell short of GLORY). In order to do this, he has called each one of us, uniquely, to live purposeful lives as different parts of the body of Christ, but all part of the same body under his headship.
So I want to encourage you friends. God knows you, and he loves you, and he wants you to to walk in a manner worthy of your calling. If you don't know what your calling is, don't worry. Your destiny is to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus. Let him renew your mind, replace lies with truth (who is the person, Jesus) and let him give you the desires of your heart. The more you get to know Jesus, the more you get to know YOU.
