“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord: Thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
Jeremiah 29:11
Though the pieces of our puzzle (life) may seem disjointed or disconnected at times, we need not fear, fret or fume when we know He’ll use everything for our good and His Glory (Rom. 8:28).
How long’s it been, Pilgrim, since you pulled up a chair or went out to your favorite nook by the brook in the woods and reflected on your life? That long, huh? Maybe today would be a good time to set aside some time to do so and see how today’s Manna fits in to your personal jigsaw puzzle called life.
We know the Lord God said “It is good” after making every part of creation (Gen. 1:12, 17, 25) and then said “It is very good” when He finished (v.31). We also know how Adam and Eve’s sin messed up everything by opening up Pandora’s Box of suffering, separation, disease and death, which affects us all unto this day (I Cor. 15:21-22).
But, our omniscient Lord knew all of this was going to happen BEFORE it did and He planned accordingly (Eph. 1:3-14). Instead of fig leaves, Adam and Eve were clothed with “coats of skin” when they left the Garden (Gen. 3:21). This was a picture of the coming “Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world” (Jn. 1:29, 36) and how “without the shedding of blood there is no remission (Grk. ‘aphesis’—‘deliverance, pardon, forgiveness, etc.’) of sin” (Heb. 9:22).
Likewise, down through the years the Heavenly Father always knew what would happen and preserved a remnant. He called out Noah to build the ark. . .Abraham to “go without knowing where He was going” (Heb. 11:8) so He could bless the whole world through him. . .Joseph to “prepare a place” for his family in Egypt during the famine. . .Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery even as Christ leads us out of sin, etc.
Truly He has a Plan. A good Plan.
And, by His Mercy, we’re a part of it—IF we choose to be a part of it.
From the time we’re in our mother’s womb, He knows us and loves us (Ps. 139). Even though we may mess things up, His Grace is still greater than our sins. Although we may try to put the puzzle together on our own. . .fashioning one “into our own image” (Gen. 3:5b). . .when we realize we can’t, but He can, He’ll take over and make something beautiful of our lives (II Cor. 5:17; Joel 2:25-26).
All of our puzzles are individual pieces of His Big Puzzle (Plan). Our piece may be small and seemingly insignificant in comparison to others; however, nothing or no one is unimportant to Him and He’ll use us to complete His Puzzle which, in the end, will be Perfect.
Dear Pilgrim, are you letting Him use EVERYTHING and EVERYONE in your life for your good and His Glory? Or, have you gotten hung up on a painful piece from the past and grown bitter in the process? If so, surrender it to Him and start “giving thanks in all things” (I Thess. 5:18). Then, watch Him transform your puzzle into His prized possession (Eph. 2:10).
By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated September 20, 2009
