God's Plan: que sera, sera, right?

I was speaking to Steve Broadfoot yesterday and he suggested that I write a post about God’s Plan (capital P). He’s concerned that as Christians we take this prearranged state of affairs for granted. We like to say "we don’t need to be afraid, God has a plan" or "what will be, will be". (Que sera, sera.)

And there is something wonderfully comforting about knowing that someone or something is in control. I mean, occasionally we sit up in bed in a cold sweat wondering if the universe is totally illogical, disordered and out of control, flying wildly through time and space like a frisbee.

I do believe that there’s a plan, though. God’s Plan. That everything fits together into the greatest, most beautiful story ever told, the good bits and the bad bits, and everything that we do and see and feel is part of it. The thing that worries Steve is that when people know God has a Plan for them they tend to take a backseat. When everything is already sorted we think that there’s nothing left for us to do.

We become complaisant.

It’s very pleasant isn’t it? Knowing that everything is already being done. And by someone a lot bigger and more competent than us who gets it right far more often.

But that’s not how Gods Plan works.

God is as good as it gets, He really, really doesn’t need any help from us. As you may have noticed when He was last here in person (about 2000 years ago) He was probably better at doing all His healing and loving people and winding up the authorities stuff without His disciples. Not to mention, He’s all-powerful, all-knowing, outside of time, etc, etc, and yet He’s written us into His big Plan.

That seems counter-productive right? Humans aren’t the greatest accomplices for God: we don’t like to be told what to do, we don’t really listen, when we do listen we don’t understand, and even when we understand we screw it up by accident or on purpose.

So why does God want us to help Him carry out his Plan?

Pretty simple. He likes us. He loves each of us and has given every one a different personality and skill-set. And how do you show someone that you love them? You invite them to be a part of your life and your future. You want to be a part of their life and future. That’s what God says to us: can I share your life with you? Come and be a part of this big beautiful story I’m writing!

If we then choose to be part of God’s plan, what does that involve? Well, it’s not an easy ride that’s for sure.

The main thing that I have learned is that God’s Plan doesn’t just happen. Actually, sometimes it does, sometimes you are confronted with a situation and you know exactly what God wants you to do, and it’s something simple and natural. Like being kind to people, which is usually fairly easy; but as Steve said “it’s easy to be nice, it’s hard to be loving”.

More and more I find that God’s Plan is less obvious, less easily perceptible because I need to be an active part of what He's doing. I can’t simply wait and see what He does, I need to step out, to search for opportunities to do God’s work, to push through fear and social awkwardness and do what Jesus would do if He were in my situation.

Even today the Holy Spirit gave me a very clear message; She said “step it up”. And yesterday Steve began to wonder aloud what church might look like if we were to step it up a gear, to be more active and create opportunities, instead of just praying and singing while we wait for the easy chances to do God’s work. How much more ‘fruit’ would we see? More physical/spiritual/mental healing, better relationships, more people falling in love with Jesus. Wouldn’t that be beautiful?

The fact is I probably wouldn’t be able to even consider stepping it up if I didn’t love and trust God (and it took me a while to get here), which is why I’m praying for quite a few of you, that you begin to love and trust Him.  But if you think that you already love and trust God, ask yourself if you are actively engaging in His plan. Or are you sitting back, and waiting complaisantly? He's got things for you to be doing, you know.

Jesus said: I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know what his master is doing. But I call you friends because I have made known to you everything I heard from my Father. You did not choose me; I chose you. And I gave you this work: to go and produce fruit, fruit that will last.

John 15:15-16

Thanks to Steve for challenging me, and apologies if this didn't quite get to the heart of what you were saying yesterday. I had a lot of trouble keeping it within my usual word limit (I don't want to post an essay), but please feel free to add anything extra in the comments or send it to me and I can post it separately.

Ideas/comments/questions are welcome from anybody :)