“At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. So, Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders. The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles. There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, where they continued to preach the gospel.” Acts 14:1-7
Have you ever given it all the effort you had to do something that seemed to be God pleasing and upon completion, stood back and honestly said, “oh man, that didn’t work out the way that I hoped it would.” It’s happened to me before and what usually happens is, I take a moment and honestly consider whether this project was ‘my’ idea or HIS. Sometimes it needed to turn out with a flaw as that was part of HIS plan to get me to learn a much needed, important lesson. HE said ‘talk to ME and then listen’.
A few weeks ago, my morning devotion from Pastor Chuck Swindoll had a really good lesson and it fit well into my wheelhouse. He wrote the following observation. “A sentence in the diary of James Gilmore, pioneer missionary to Mongolia, has stayed with me since the day I first read it. After years of laboring long and hard for the cause of Christ in that desperate land, he wrote, "In the shape of converts I have seen no result. I have not, as far as I am aware, seen anyone who even wanted to be a Christian. Let me add some further reality to that statement by taking you back to an entry in Gilmore's journal made in the early days of his ministry. It expressed his dreams and burdens for the people of Mongolia. Handwritten in his journal are these dreams: "Several huts in sight. When shall I be able to speak to the people? O Lord, suggest by the Spirit how, l should come among them, and in preparing myself to teach the life and love of Christ Jesus."
Mr. Gilmore wanted to reach those lost souls of Mongolia with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Following many years of working to accomplish that he wrote; "I have not, as far as I am aware, seen anyone who even wanted to be a Christian." Was the plan to become a missionary to Mongolia, Mr. Gilmore’s plan or God’s plan?
Paul and Barnabas went to Iconium to preach the Gospel and they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. But there were Jews who refused to believe and they stirred up the other Gentiles and caused them to influence others to also refuse to believe. They kept on preaching the Gospel. When we are moved or nudged to do HIS work, it’s not always going to turn out how we had hoped; our plans tend to be flawed. Gang led chaos in Haiti has caused 16 of the 28 schools in Port-au-Prince with Trinity HOPE feeding programs to stay closed this month. A few voices have suggested just giving up on feeding children in Haiti and go to another country. Don’t listen to them. God is still at work; HE has a plan.
The children in Haiti who have been educated in Christian schools with Trinity HOPE feeding programs for the past 25 years, are a part of HIS plan. The children in the next 25 years are being prepared for HIS future plan for Haiti. Results may be depressing today, but will be improving tomorrow. God is still in control. Trust in Him and wait…and see.
Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay