Lessons from an Intentional God
Day 3
Have you ever met a leader, boss, parent with the “do as I say not as I do” mindset, and even if they don’t say it, we can often tell that it’s what they mean by the way that they live their lives. Some people in positions of authority tend to hold those who are coming after them to frustratingly high standards, while never holding these standards themselves. We see bosses reprimanding employees for being 5 minutes late, while keeping shady work hours. Or parents requiring certain behaviours of their children, while engaging in it themselves. And often times the unfairness and hypocrisy of it, bothers us and sometimes making doing as they say a bit difficult. Fortunately for believers, we don’t serve a God who is like that. Not only did he carefully and intentionally make us in his own image and likeness, but he gave us an example to follow.
As much as many would like us to believe in the utter randomness of creation, the bible shows us something different. It illustrates a careful and deliberate orchestration of the world; mankind’s creation and salvation. The apostle Paul calls it a mystery now revealed, in Ephesians chapter 1. He traces the gift of salvation for all of mankind through Jesus Christ, from the very beginning to the end of time.
“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do and it gave him great pleasure.” Eph 1:4-5
The intentionality of God reverberates throughout scripture, even as expressed in these two verses. A closer look at it would show us that:
- God had a plan: (‘God decided in advance…’). God’s all knowing nature makes it possible for him to foresee and prepare for every possible outcome. It’s not our role to know exactly how he does that, but what we can do is trust that if we belong to a God who doesn’t allow things to happen randomly, but in accordance to his purpose, then we can live each day trusting the process that he takes us through. Jeremiah 29:11
- God had a reason for that plan: (‘God loved us and chose us…’). God didn’t just orchestrate a plan for mankind’s salvation because he was bored. But it came out of his love for us and his desire to have us close to him again. The fact that God does what he does out of love for us, helps us trust that he will work all things, even the awful things, together for the good of those of us who love him. Romans 8:28
- God took his precious time in revealing that plan to others: faith is so important to being a follower of Christ. The men of faith of old, such as Noah, Abraham, David etc, trusted in God and believed his promises, out of love for him. God promised them so much of which they never got to see in their time. Despite being close to him, God still did not fully reveal his plan of salvation to them. Instead God chose to strategically reveal his plan at a key point in its execution. Ephesian 3:3-5
- He executed his plan strategically: God wasn’t all talk and no action. He fulfilled every promise he made to those men of old, brought prophecies to pass and strategically orchestrated historical events to mirror the beauty of his intentions. He knew what he needed to execute that plan and the sacrifices it would take. Prov 16:4
- He found pleasure in it: But God held fast to his ultimate purpose and knowing what he was accomplishing in his intentionality, gave him pleasure. Because he knew that the outcome (our salvation and return to him) was worth it.
Therefore, to feel the love of Christ in the laying down of his life, it helps to see how utterly intentional it was. – John Piper
The intentionality of God doesn’t just help build our faith in him, but it also shows us how we too can exercise intentionality in our own lives:
1. Have a plan, 2. have a reason for that plan (direction and purpose), 3. take your time in revealing your plan to others, 4. execute your plan strategically, 5. find pleasure in what you are accomplishing
So I leave this with you today: Imitate Christ and be intentional.
Be a blessing,
KellyP
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Sources mentioned:
John Piper. ‘The Intensity of Christ’s Love and the Intentionality of His Death’. www.desiringgod.org
Kelly is the founder of Royalty Press United. Author of the Gemstone Royals fantasy series, Twist of Faith and Crossroads. Counseling psychologist, proud Grenadian and devoted follower of Christ.
