Recently I had a practice interview for a Christian podcast to discuss the “Jewishness of Jesus,” and what it means for the 21st century church. For over 2000 years most Christians have focused on the events of the New Testament failed to add it up and missed the ways of God.
Many have forgotten how God was working in the Old Testament to accomplish His plan for the beautiful redemption of humanity. All of the prophecies that are fulfilled in the New Testament are made and planned in the Old Testament.
We cannot cling to the hope of the New Testament without understanding the promise of the Old Testament. The Judeo-Christian faith is forever intertwined with the Jewish teachings of old. It’s up God to lead us down the right paths in life.
Like our Jewish stepfathers, believers are as stubborn as sheep who carelessly wonder after whatever makes them happy. Dear God, it’s scary how many believers think they know better than their creator. Like Israel in the Old Testament, the 21st-century church needs wise shepherds. This is why Jesus called Himself the “Good Shepherd” (John 10:10). I know He is fighting for me.
Each of the gospel writers acknowledges God’s redemption plan for the world that began even before the Old Testament. God’s people must acknowledge and surrender to God’s plans.
God only knows what the future holds for us. A plan is a detailed proposal or course of action for achieving a desired goal. I admit, I am a planner by nature due to my brain injury. I make plans around my health, workload, and weather.
Personally, my life seems to run smoother with plans. However, I am old enough to know that my plans will fail unless they are part of God’s will and God I need your power. I also know ultimately it is God’s plans that will prevail, whether they are what I want or not.
There is a misconception that Christians’ hearts are somehow good and sinless. The wise King Solomon warned us that chasing what we want is as pointless as chasing the wind (Ecclesiastes 1:14; 2:17).
Solomon, like his father knew he needed a heart like God. Judaism teaches that man’s heart is evil and deceitful beyond all understanding (Genesis 6:5, Jeremiah 17:9). God needs to change our hearts.
This is why it is wise for us to guard our hearts with diligence and save ourselves needless pain (Proverbs 4:23; 7:25). Jesus taught His Disciples evil flows from our hearts (Matthew 15:18-20). Always doing things your way isn’t wise. Only God can save us.
The same Jesus knows Satan tempts us with the desires of our hearts because Satan tried to do it in the wilderness place (Matthew 4:1-11). However, Jesus denied Himself to do God’s will.
Our Lord taught His Disciples to pray for and seek God’s will also (Luke 11:1-13). We can trust God’s will and His plans for us because He is omnipresent and in control. He wants the best for us (Jeremiah 29:10-12).
Best
God has always known what’s best for us in the long run, not just a short-term win. I am not saying God wants us to be miserable and suffer on earth, although Jesus promised that His people will face hardship in this life (John 16:33).
However, in the scope of eternity, our struggles in this life are temporary and our best lives are yet to come. The hardships of this life trick us into thinking we know better than God. Our selfish plans often set us up for disappointment.
But, God knows what the future holds and plans accordingly. Jesus told His Disciples a parable to help them plan accordingly (Luke 14:28-30). Planning isn’t bad as long as we seek God’s will, because our heavenly Father knows best. The plans of man fail (Proverbs 15: 22, unlike God plans (Proverbs 16:3)!
