God’s Great Plan For Our Lives

God’s Great Plan for Our Lives

Jeremiah 1:4-10

Sermon by Rick Crandall

Grayson Baptist Church - Sept. 9, 2012

*The second Sunday in September has been important to me for a long time. It took over 5 years for me to answer God’s call into the ministry. But when I said “yes,” He almost immediately started opening the door for us to come back to Louisiana. And I began serving as the Associate Pastor at McClendon Baptist Church 29 years ago on the second Sunday in September, 1983.

*Then last summer, I got a call from a very nice, young, lady named Kellie. She asked me if I would be interested in filling in a Sunday at Grayson. So my first time to preach here was the second Sunday of September, last year. And there has been something uniquely special about this past year. Mary and I have never felt closer to anyone than we feel to you. And I don’t know why both of these big things started on the second Sunday of September, but God has a reason.

You see, God has a plan for our lives! This is the message to us from the Scripture today. God has a great plan and purpose for our lives!

1. First, God designed our lives.

*Jeremiah’s testimony in vs. 4&5 make this clear to us:

4. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying:

5. "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations."

*Just like Jeremiah, you and I were designed by the Hand of God.

-He planned us and knew us before we were born.

-He formed us, molded us, and shaped us in the womb.

*This reminds us of the wonder and worth of our lives. As King David told the LORD in Psalm 139:13&14.

13. . . You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.

14. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made . . .

*God Himself designed our lives. And this of course is why abortion is certainly wrong.

*I would like you to hear a letter to the editor from "The Anderson (Indiana) Herald Bulletin" in January of 2000: “I’m writing this Jan. 21, the eve of the anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade abortion decision, and remembering an experience I had at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C.

*I was visiting an exhibit called ‘The Ascent of Man.’ In one room of the exhibit were displayed 10 to 12 fetuses preserved in jars showing different stages of development from a few weeks to full term.

*Nearby in the same room was a young mother with her son who appeared to be about 4 years of age. The little boy was intently studying the jars and after a few moments, pointed to one and said in his 4-year-old voice, ‘Mommy, what is that?" -- She softly replied, "A fetus, honey.’

*The little boy studied it a few moments more, then replied, ‘Well mommy, it looks like a baby to me.’

*The hush that fell over the room was deafening. Everyone became silent and stood very still. After several moments, everyone very quietly left the room one by one. No one said a word. This small boy had spoken the truth, and no one could argue with that truth.

*I had been on the fence concerning the abortion issue prior to the Smithsonian. However, this experience forever solidified my stand and my heart on this issue. It is a baby, and that is the truth. – Signed: Jean Burcham, Anderson, Indiana.” (1)

*In vs. 5, the LORD told Jeremiah: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.” And just like Jeremiah, you and I were formed by the Hand of God. So you are precious in His sight. Your life has great value, because you were shaped by the Hand of God.

*Zig Ziglar put it in great perspective when he asked us to think about the priceless masterpieces painted by DaVinci or Michelangelo. And Zig said, “I am roughly familiar with the price of the canvass and the paints. In and of themselves, they are not worth much at all. No -- The value of the painting comes from the touch of the Master’s Hand.” (2)

*And you are priceless, because you were created by the greatest Master of all. Your life has great value, because you were formed by the Hand of God.

-He designed our lives.

2. And now He wants to develop our lives.

*Part of the good news for us as believers is this: God’s not through with us yet! Aren’t you glad? The Lord continues to mold and shape our lives every day. But how does He do it? -- We can see two ways in vs. 6-9.