In Galatians 1:15, Paul refers to “God, who had set me apart before I was born…” When Paul wrote those words, he was echoing ideas expressed in the Old Testament. In Jeremiah, we read about Jeremiah’s call as a prophet:
“Now the word of the Lord came to me saying,
‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations‘” (Jeremiah 1:4,5)
Paul was saying something similar. New Testament commentator, William Barclay, writes: “Every person is an idea of God; for every person God has a plan; God sends every person into the world with a part to play in God’s purpose and design. It may be a big part and it may be a small part. It may be to do something of which the whole world will know, and it may be to do something of which none but the circle of those who are nearest to us will ever know” (adapted — Barclay, Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians, Westminster Press [Philadelphia, 1958], p. 13).
September 20, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Someone made an interesting observation this week when he said words to the effect, “I have never been able to see God’s plan for my life in front of me, but as I look through the rear-view mirror of my life, I can see a path that has been clearly marked.” I can identify with that.
September 22, 2008 at 10:56 pm
I too can relate to that. I definitely think that God has a grand plan and although it seems my faith has been tested by specific situations, when I look back I see how those episodes led to other events and opportunities and then it all begins to make sense!
November 7, 2008 at 9:03 pm
I agree. Although Ive learned that I have to be patient. That “rear-view” takes a lot longer than I expect sometimes! But Ive learned to try to be patient, keep praying, and have faith that it WILL all make sense eventually.
(This is a great idea, by the way – having this forum to discuss. Why are there only 3 of us here? I found the link on Joyce’s blog!)