Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

It seems fitting to spend the week before Christmas searching the scriptures for wisdom regarding planning and plans.

We’ll begin today appreciate the Master plan.

Today’s scripture, Ephesians 3:3-6 (NLT) shares…
[3] As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me. [4] As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ. [5] God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets. [6] And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.

Consider…
Oxford Languages defines Master Plan as a comprehensive or far-reaching plan of action.

And in my Google search for the meaning of a master plan I found the following….
A strategic plan answers the question “where do we want to go?” while a master plan provides a road map that shows how we can get there.

I like that because, it explains John 3:16 (NLT), which says…
[16] “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

God’s strategic plan was to get people to spend eternity with Him, and His road map to get there was Jesus Christ!

That gives added meaning to John 14:6 (NLT), which says…
[6] Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

When thinking about Christmas, many people celebrate the baby Jesus born in manger. Yet, as I read today’s scripture my thinking is expanded to consider Christmas is also God giving us His Master Plan to eternal life.

In my mind expansion, the Holy Spirit also gave me another illustration of what Jesus being the Master Plan looks like. Luke 8:23-25 (NLT) shares…
[23] As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger. [24] The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm. [25] Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?” The disciples were terrified and amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!”

The Holy Spirit explained, we were drowning in sin until Jesus made the winds and waves obey Him.

My understanding was increased to see the symmetry of Jesus being the Master Plan with the storm experience in Matthew 14:24-33 (NLT)…
[24] Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. [25] About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. [26] When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” [27] But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” [28] Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” [29] “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. [30] But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. [31] Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” [32] When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. [33] Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.

You see, like the disciples we were far away from God and in deep trouble when Jesus came towards us. Romans 5:6 (NLT) explains it this way…
[6] When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.

But not only did Christ come towards us, He allowed us, like Peter, to meet Him in the midst of our distress and grief. That reminds me of the lyrics in the hymn…

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
that calls me from a world of care,
and bids me at my Father’s throne
make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
my soul has often found relief,
and oft escaped the tempter’s snare
by thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

God’s Master Plan through Jesus Christ was relief from the penalty, power and presence of sin.

As the Holy Spirit continued to expand my thinking of God’s Master Plan unveiled in a manger, He showed me how when we, like Peter, lack the faith to make it all the way to Him, He extends grace to pick us up out of the sea of sin and return us to the ship of salvation, with Him, sailing to the other side.

Another part of the Holy Spirit’s mind expansion included Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT) stating…
[11] Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.

The Holy Spirit said, we all have a hope for eternity planted inside of us. He also said that He inspired Psalmist Andrae Crouch to write the musical response to our pursuit of that eternity…

Jesus Is The Answer For The World Today
Above Him There’s No Other Jesus Is The Way

The Holy Spirit’s mind expansion work regarding God’s Master Plan will pause here for today. But suffice to say, in all your Christmas planning, be mindful that God’s Master Plan is the most important plan of all!

Today’s Song is…
The Master Plan

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)