Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:
Galatians 4:21-23 (NIV)
Hagar and Sarah
21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. 23 His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.
Are you a planner? Maybe you’ve heard the saying, “While I plan, God laughs”. As we look at scripture, that’s not exactly accurate. For example, we see that Paul had a plan for his missionary journeys. There were many times when things went according to plan, too. Yet, on those occasions when life goes off in an unexpected direction, the question becomes: where is our faith? Is our faith in the plan or in the one who created us and has a plan for us? There are times when we are called to use our efforts, our resources, and our intelligence to accomplish a plan. At other times, it’s as if God reaches out and puts everything in place for us. In both cases, the danger is treating the plan like the law; treating the plan as though it can save us. In all cases, God alone holds us. God alone guides and directs us. Today, consider the plans set before you. Take a few moments and ask God to teach you how to put your faith in Him alone. Pray for wisdom, courage and faith as you proceed and thank God for his grace and love in the midst of all things.