"The Counsel of the Nations" vs "The Plans of His Heart"

"The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.  The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations."  (Psalm 33:10, 11)

Our text applies throughout history, in all generations, in all nations, Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece, Rome, Germany, Russia, the United States of America.  Do not ever think for a moment these Words do not rule.

"So how does this 'devotional thought' bless me?"-- one may ask.  Quite simply, Our Lord, King, Savior, Jesus the Christ, has us covered, in all "seasons" of our lives, whether we live in a land of "freedom" or a land of persecution, a condition of slavery or democracy, a nation where we can determine our government, or a nation which allows no such choice, "The counsel of the Lord stands forever...."  All of the above worldly powers have either ceased to exit, or were once seemingly all powerful, or the Earth's only "super power"; n0 matter.  "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Words will by no means pass away" (Jesus).  There you have it, my friend.  Now some will ask, "If the text is true, why the famine, why the suffering, the enslavement of people groups, the Holocaust, the triumph of evil is so many places throughout so much of human history?"

I repeat, "The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing...."  Has He not?  What, "counsel of the nations..," throughout human history still stands?  what, "....plans of the peoples.., from a thousand years ago are still in, "effect"?  Conversely, What, "....counsel of the Lord," does not stand?  What, "....plans of His heart," have ceased?  Be very careful how you may be tempted to answer such questions.  The truth is that none of us knows what were/are Jesus', "counsel," and, "plans," in all humanity has observed through the centuries.  (This is what makes the current American political scene so fascinating to me.)  O, yes, there will be the "experts" among us, the have-an-answer-for-everything-and-everyone, but they are not, and do not. 

My "blessing" today in this land which has given so much "good" and so much evil to the world is in Jesus Christ, "The counsel of the Lord [Jesus Christ]," and, "The plans of [Jesus'] Heart...."  I pray the same for you, no matter what nation in which you find yourself.

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You that You are, "Wonderful Counselor," and the Ultimate "Planner."  Amen.
**************************
* Well, Sarah's bag finally made it this morning.  Weather is low 50s, rainy and cool, typical Berlin weather. 
* I have posted a couple of photos to "Facebook."  Thanks for any prayers for us.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"Lifetime Warranty"

"Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases!  For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men."  (Psalm 12:1)

The NKJV Bible has as the title to this Psalm, "Man's Treachery and God's Constancy."  Notice that the text in the NKJV is in the present tense, "....the godly...ceases", and, "the faithful disappear...."  Look around and, who can argue with this?

Well, it's Monday morning and I found out that I need the front brakes on the car replaced.  Monroe says they have lifetime warranty; hmm, interesting phrase, that "Lifetime Warranty."  Yet this is what, whether most admit it or not, we want from everything and everyone, "Lifetime Warranty."  There is a line in a song from the 1950s which says, "....until The Twelfth Of Never, I'll still be loving you."  I wonder of all those who sang and said this are still, "....loving you."  The truth is, very little in our lives is "lifetime-warranty," or, "The Twelfth of Never," any more for most of humanity, especially in relationships.  Sarah and I are grateful for those who have been in our lives for a long time, and seem to be of the commitment that they will be there "to the end."  Of course, we are thankful for our family members who have been there "from the beginning" in some cases, and near the beginning for others.  So thankful for all the aforementioned who have not, "....ceases!" nor are of those who, "....disappear...."  Again, thank you for not ceasing to be in our lives and not disappearing!

While the, "godly," and, "faithful," just keep disappearing, "from...men," in the moral and lifestyle sense, the reality is that sooner or later we will all physically, at least, "cease[]," and, "disappear."  Only Jesus is the "Lifetime Warranty" of the Universe.  Remember the take on John 1:1, "Before the beginning began, the Word already Was."  Micah says that, "The Word of God," Jesus, is He Who Is, "from days of eternity."  And into that, "eternity," you and I stepped when we surrendered our lives to Jesus.  Some of us who read this devotional are physically in the relative "beginning" of life; others are in the "sunset years."  No matter.  In our Lord Jesus Christ we are now of The Eternal One.  Right now, we ourselves are eternal because of our, "in Christ," and, "Christ in you," relationship.  I pray our Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit comfort you today with this refreshing Reality.

Father, in Jesus' Name, Your Words in Psalm 12:1, as all Your Words, are true, and I can say, Far too true.  Thank You that You Are the Ceaseless, "Ever-Present," One.  Amen.
************************
* We leave for our Berlin Mission tomorrow, October 4 and return on October 27.  Any prayers appreciated.
* Read about the increasing take over of Arab/Islamism in France at:  jhs58.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2