Do you believe that God has a plan for you? A lot of people latch onto this idea, especially after experiencing a close call with death.

I myself have entertained the idea after, not one, but two car accidents that were considered physically impossible for someone to walk away from. Yet here I am.

Giving much thought after those incidents, I can conceive that while God may have run interference because it was not yet my time, I have trouble believing that He left me here because I had not yet completed my set destiny in life...as for Him to set such a destiny would interfere with Free Will.

What do you believe? Do you think God has a plan for you?

Yes and I take it one day at a time.. if i do the best i can then he wiull show me what i am to do as it comes along. this is what i believe is the heart of the matter 1 day at a time as lives crosspaths..

Luke 4:18-19

18 "The Spirit of Yahweh is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the Evangel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
19 To proclaim the acceptable year of Yahweh."

This was what Yahshua came to do and we are to proclaim this also. It is part of the EliYah message also that was/is the increase as John decreased with John's Baptism of for remitance of sins.

Blessings of Shalom..Miles

So, do you see God’s plan as more of a series of options…it’s still your choice day by day to choose to do what you believe God’s plan consists of today?

Luke did God’s work…no doubt here, but he had that option. Had he not taken up the cross that God gave him the option to bear, wouldn’t God have offered it to someone else?

In other words, do you believe that Luke was born to do this work for God? He had no choice but to take up God’s plan? It was not his Free Will to commit himself to it and carry it out?

We all are called to do what God tells us to do. That is where our free will plays in, we can choose to obey or choose to disobey. Luke did have a choice, he could obey or disobey, he had free will just as you and I. That is how we will be judged. We will be judged on if we did the will of our father, or our own will and what we alone want.

thats it in a nutshell basically.. Blessings..Miles

Cowboy,

Now, that's something I can grasp....not predestination, but a path given with the choice to follow.

I think it's harder to see for someone who has not seen a calling larger than feeding an occasional homeless man or giving a pregnant lady a lift when her car is broken down in the middle of nowhere.

I also believe that many use the excuse, of waiting for "God's plan"; expecting Him to use them in some way that is unavoidable in their lives, as a source of procrastination.

In not expecting God to "use" me in this manner, I like to think that I try to seek out opportunities to do God's work where I can find it and not wait for my destiny to befall me.

Miles,

It looks as if we are all on the same page with this.

I think we have a purpose, something we are meant to fulfill

I think the 'plan' part, or how we do it, is left to us,,,

Interesting take. Do you not believe we have the ability to walk away from our God given purpose?

In your belief, does this apply to all of us, or just those chosen to be gifted with a plan?

In other words, is an evil dictator playing out his God given role? Did he choose not to follow God's plan? Or is this dictator under the plan of the Devil himself?

"But we are not of them who draw back
unto perdition;
but of them that believe
to the saving of the soul."
Heb_10:39,



"And we know that all things work together
for good to them that love God,
to them who are the called
according to his purpose."
Rom_8:28,



"But ye are not in the flesh,
but in the Spirit,
if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.
Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ,
he is none of his."
Rom_8:9,

I dont think we have God given roles in that sense. I think we have a purpose,, something our existence is meant to impact. The evil dictator has a purpose, but not necessarily to be an evil dictator.

Hitler had a purpose, but it doesnt mean his purpose was to kill jewish people.

I dont think we can walk away from purpose, I think it is included in every path we are given the choice to take.

"So the last shall be first,
and the first last:
for many be called,
but few chosen."
Mat_20:16,


"For many are called,
but few are chosen."
Matthew 22:14,

Msharmony I agree 100%! I dont believe in destiny but I do believe we are all connected some way. Our choices may and will change others. I believe we all have a purpose though. And from that we cant run.

Thank you for bringing this scripture as well as the earlier post, but the question is not based on the fact that I have not read the Bible and need to be shown scriptures that clarify the subject, but rather that the scripture is not definitive enough to answer the subject.

In your opinion, what does this scripture say to you?

To me it says we have free will. If many are called, but few chosen, that means most were either unsuccessful or chose not to heed the calling at all. Which means that paths will be set before us, but it is our choice to walk it or not.

To others it means that it's predestined to happen the way that God intended.

What does it mean to you.

Msharmony and Stefy,

I'm taking your meanings as purpose in a "mankind" since and not so much in an individual sense? Is this correct?

If so, I do think that we have a combined purpose and even though most of us do not chose to follow our individual purposes, the end result will still manifest...whatever that may be.

As CerisRose's contribution in scripture points out...or as I interpret it to mean...if many are called, but few chosen, then we do not all follow our purpose. I don't believe that God would only choose a select few out of the masses, if everyone followed their/His purpose, so I have to assume that many do not.

If we are each individually pre-set to accomplish a purpose, but only have the right to choose how we complete it, then I don't consider ourselves having free will, but rather… a long leash.

I believe that is predestination, which by definition cannot exist alongside free will.

I know this is something that's been debated for longer than we could imagine and it's not to be settled right here in this forum. I just wanted to get opinions off the shelves.

No matter what we believe in regard to this particular topic...we believe, and that's what's important.

my health is so bad - I am 63 take care of 3 cats and my husband just left me without saying goodbye - what should I think of that? Am I going to get over it - not for a long time - you all pray hard for me

Debsssss, I hope the best for you.

First...
I pray that the Lord will restore your health.

My advice would be to cast your cares upon the Lord.

Dispel the anger, the fear, and the despair.

I am assuming your husband is a high priority.

So... you should pray for your husband.

Pray for his healing as well as your own.

And always remember...

Every thing that is a concern to you
is a concern to our Father in heaven.


God Bless your home!!!
In Jesus' Name, Amen!

CeriseRose

Just now saw your post.....

You are in My Prayers,Debssss!!!

I can remember reading, "Have a purpose in life. Be a bad example." But when I read in the Bible how Jesus was a good example especially when questions were asked of him I find that he wasn't one always to take the easy way out. One of my favorite readings in the Bible is about David because he said that the Lord was his shepherd and David was a shepherd. Like Jesus would leave the other ninety-nine to go after the one I find that sometimes I have to have the same outlook when I am at work. Sure enough my 'little buddy' will get stuck with her wheelchair. She will be just scooting with her feet going no where because she is stuck between the commode and the wall or bumping on some plastic trash container. And I will get her straightened up so she can go again. Then she will just grin at me and giggle. She is almost always the highlight of night.

This reminds me of the parable which Jesus told,
of the "talents" in Matthew 25:


14, "For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country,
who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

15, And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one;
to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

16, Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same,
and made them other five talents.

17, And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

18, But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

19, After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

20, And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents,
saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

21, His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant:
thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things:
enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

22, He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents:
behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.

23, His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant;
thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things:
enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

24, Then he which had received the one talent came and said,
Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown,
and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

25, And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

26, His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant,
thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

27, Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers,
and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

28, Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

29, For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance:
but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

30, And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

31, When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him,
then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

32, And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another,
as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

33, And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34, Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

35, For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink:
I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36, Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37, Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee?
or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38, When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39, Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40, And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you,
Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

41, Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed,
into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

42, For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

43, I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not:
sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44, Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst,
or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

45, Then shall he answer them, saying,
Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

46, And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal."