CONFIDENCE
IN YOUR DESTINY
EPHESIANS
1.3-14
DECEMBER
30, 2007
WESLEY
UNITED METHODIST CHUCH
Douglas
Norms
“I
know the Lord’s laid his hands on me,” we sang. Is the Lord
leading you? Do you believe you have a destiny? Destiny has a ring
to it, doesn’t it? As you look back on 2007, can you see destiny
exerting its influence over you? Can you see a pattern working in
and through all the events, working through your response to those
events? Do you feel compelled, motivated, dominated by something
bigger than yourself? Do you have confidence in your destiny?
Some
university students were asked to state their most difficult personal
problem. 75% listed “lack of confidence,” feelings of
inferiority, doubt, inadequacy and insecurity. Some people are
afraid—afraid to assert themselves; afraid to express opinions;
afraid to ask for a raise; afraid to compete, feeling they are not as
athletic, or as pretty, or as popular as others. They doubt their
abilities. They mistrust their ability to handle responsibility,
including responsibility for their own lives. They lack a belief in
their own worth.
What
is needed is a dose of destiny—a strong, powerful, motivating,
compelling, sense of destiny.
In
our Scripture lesson this morning, Paul writes of the plan God has
for the creation, a plan which was fashioned even before the world
was created. Paul is so captured by the wonder of God’s plan and
his own destiny in that plan that the entire passage, Ephesians
1.3-14, is only one sentence in the original Greek text! Translators
have much fun trying to interpret and translate a two-paragraph
sentence. Paul is ecstatic about God’s plan. Even before the
world began, God chose us to be his people. Verses 5 and 10, “God
destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ…as a
plan for the fullness of time.” Do you have confidence that God
has a plan, a plan that will withstand setbacks, a plan that will not
fail, a plan for the redemption of all there is? Do you have
confidence that you have a significant role—a destiny—in the
fulfillment of that plan?
God’s
plan is to unite all creation, bring it together, including
humanity, with Jesus Christ as head. You and I are created, placed
on this earth at this time, to help carry out the plan, to serve God
in the task of redemption. It is in doing God’s work that we find
our significance. You have a destiny. Believing in your destiny can
give you a sense of joy, peace, and confidence.
Now
don’t confuse destiny with bad patterns. Some folks are caught in
the web of bad patterns---self-made destinies that they have built by
making poor choices. Some people have a crippling sense of
martyrdom, believing if anything bad can happen, it will happen to
them. Some folks think it is their destiny to fail. They
continually set themselves up to fail and when they fail, they are
again convinced that failure is their destiny. They repeat the
predictable results over and over. The vicious repetitions convince
them of their destiny to fail.
The
good news is that Jesus can set you free from bad choices, can set
you free from bad patterns, so that you may live out God’s destiny
for you. I believe our lives have purpose. We can choose to follow
our destiny, and make choices that are in accord with the destiny God
has planned for us. When you make choices in accord with your true
destiny, you then live out your destiny, and in the living out of
your destiny, you experience, peace, courage and confidence.
Perhaps
you can’t see your future destiny; but, can you see the hand of God
in your life that has brought you to this day? Can you see how
events of the past have conspired to bring you to where you are
today? Last month, when we were celebrating Thanksgiving and
remembering the pilgrims, I told the 11:30 congregation that,
according to tradition, a twelve-year-old girl was the first person
to step off the Mayflower on to Plymouth Rock. Her name was Mary
Chilton and she is my ancestor. Her father, James Chilton, died on
board the Mayflower before they landed, and her mother died a few
months later. Mary was an orphan, but thank God, she was cared for,
grew up, married and had children; or I wouldn’t be here. It is
fascinating to look back and see how events conspired to bring us to
today. When my two oldest granddaughters were in fifth grade here in
San Jose, they told the story of Mary Chilton in speech contests.
Adrienne began her speech by asking, “April showers bring May
flowers; what do Mayflowers bring?” Her answer, “Mayflowers
bring my ancestors.” She won the district contest! Her older
sister, Alison, also went to the district speech contest and included
the story of Mary Chilton. One of her classmates, a boy of Japanese
ancestry, said to her, “I’m also descended from Mary Chilton’s
father!” Evidently he has some ancestors who weren’t Japanese,
or were there Japanese pilgrims? We are one world!
Is
it farfetched to believe that God kept Mary Chilton alive, and guided
generations so that I am able to be your pastor today? When I
consider how God plans, I understand that I am expected to do
something significant with my life. There are expectations for my
sons and grandchildren. They are alive because of Mary Chilton and
all her descendants. They are alive today to do something
significant with their lives, to discover the destiny God has
designed for them.
How
about you? Look at your past. It is fascinating to consider how
many doors opened for you at the right time and in the right place.
It is revealing to reflect on the choices you made that have brought
you to this day. Ask yourself why you are here. Consider how God
worked through the years, how God blessed your ancestors to bring you
to this day. Something significant is expected of you. There are
reasons why you are alive. You have a destiny. If you have
difficulty believing that you have a destiny, do you think your
birth is an accident? Is it a matter of luck that you are who you
are? Is it too farfetched to believe that God had and has a plan
that includes you? I believe God has planned a destiny for you.
Something
significant is expected of you. There are reasons why you are alive.
You have a destiny. As you begin 2008, live in the confidence of
your destiny. Decide to make choices in accordance with your
destiny. Let Jesus lead you to make choices that will free you from
poor choices and enslaving patterns, and put you in touch with the
destiny God has planned. You can overcome bad choices. If you are
afraid you've blown God's plan, don't worry. There is Plan B! God
doesn't give up.
But,
you must choose. God’s plan, God’s will for you, is not forced
upon you. There is a plan, but you have to decide to accept the plan
and make those choices that fulfill your destiny. It is not easy to
make decisions. Some would rather postpone decisions and let life
happen to them. But, not choosing is also a choice.
A
woman decided to travel and went to a travel agent named Patrick
Finnegan O'Riley. He suggested a safari to Africa.
“Oh,
no,” she said. “I couldn’t stand the smell of animals, much
less killing them.”
“Well,
perhaps a trip to India and a visit to the shrines.”
“Oh,
no,” she said. “India is full of diseases, I am told, and also
Hindus. I really wouldn’t want to go there.”
“How
about a trip to Ireland, to the old country?”
“Oh,
no,” she answered. “I understand that Ireland is cold and damp
and full of Catholics.”
To
which, Patrick Finnegan O’Riley drew himself up and replied, “Well
then, madam, how about going to hell: I understand it is hot, dry,
and full of Protestants.”
Making
decisions is not easy, and not deciding is to let someone else,
someone like Patrick Finnegan O’Riley, decide where you should go.
As
you make decisions, keep your eyes on Jesus; focus on Jesus and what
Jesus would have you do. Be sensitive to his leading. You have a
destiny, and Jesus will lead you.
Hear
this message in one sentence: With confidence, choose to follow your
destiny.
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