06/22/23 Daily Devotion – ‘Why do the peoples plot in vain?’

“Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, ‘Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight. Provide mounts for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.’” (Acts 23:23-24 NIV84)

The title for this devotion comes from the first verse of Psalm 1 in which King David reflects on the futility of any person, people or king to go against the will of God. How foolish to think that one can plan and conspire anything that the Lord doesn’t have full knowledge of. I will add how dangerous it is to do so as a child of God. The unbeliever may have ignorance to fall back on when in judgment for such plotting. But what about us religious folk? We know that God is omnipresent and omniscient. In our verses for today, the Jewish religious leaders are plotting to kill Paul. They are conspiring behind the backs of the Roman government, but not behind God’s back. God allows one of Paul’s relatives to overhear about the plot and he warns the Roman authorities. The Romans create their own plan to protect Paul. They get him out of town by sending him to Caesarea to see Governor Felix. In and through all of this plotting and planning, God works His will by getting Paul closer and closer to Rome.

There are two things we need to take away from this devotion. First, there are no secrets when it comes to God. He knows everything. Our plotting and planning will do us no good if it is not done in the will of God. Second, we can trust that even though evil people in this world will still try to plot, plan, and conspire, they do it in vain and to their own detriment. We can trust that God will, like He did in Paul’s life, frustrate the plans of the wicked and cause His good and gracious will to happen anyway.

Let’s be certain today that God has the only plan that we need to be concerned with.

Peace!

Pastor Tom

www.firmlyrooted.church

Let the world see Jesus in you!

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