This morning we continue our series entitled, “Refined Focus”, with an emphasis on “Focusing on God’s Finished Work”. Yesterday I gave you some context for Psalm 139:16. We took at several scriptures in the psalm. Today I want us to go back to the David’s words with an emphasis on this particular verse. In verse 16 David said this of God, “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. God wrote a book about you.
a) God wrote a book about you before you were even a twinkle in your parents’ eyes. God finished the book before you ever took one breath.
b) We know things were prophesied about Jesus before He was born. One day Jesus read Isaiah 61:1 in the temple (see Luke 4:18) and He literally found Himself in the book. While your book is not named the Bible and while the prophets of old did not foretell of your life, rest assured that the God who knows all things did prepare for you and He did write a book about you before you were born.
c) David tells us that our entire lives were mapped out in God’s mind and heart well before our mother met our father.
d) Just like an architect who finishes the detailed plans for a building before a construction worker ever lays one brick, God finished you before you ever got started. Before you ever took one breath, God had already mapped out His plans for your life.
e) God does not want to bless you before you are good. God wants to bless you because He is good. He planned to bless you before the world began. He did this by HIs unearned and amazing grace.
f) When you come to the realization that the God of the universe made plans for you before you were born, you can learn to REST in His finished work. When you rest in God’s plans your life becomes about Him and it stops becoming about you.
2. You did not disqualify yourself.
a) David committed murder; and it was MURDER ONE because it was premeditated. But not even this hernias act could disqualify David from the plans God made for him. Why? Because God knew every mischievous, wayward, disobedient and conniving act David would perform and He called David anyway! God’s call is by grace and not by merit.
b) You cannot disqualify yourself from an assignment you never qualified for in the first place. Jesus qualified you. Learn to REST in His finished work!
c) God is not looking for you to perform, He is looking for you to receive. Performance based religion puts the spotlight and emphasis on YOU. But when you understand God’s grace you simply believe and receive what God called you to do. Not because you are worthy. Not because you performed. Not because you are up to the task. Solely because God is good enough to do what He chooses to do through you!
Closing Confession: Father, this is a season of refined focus for me. I bring my life into focus in 2016. I no longer make my life about me, my plans or my performance. I make my life about You, Your plans and Your willingness to perform through me. I know You want to bless me richly. There was a time when it was hard for me to receive what You want to do through me. I felt unworthy of the call and The Blessing. But those days are over. I know I am not worthy, but Jesus was worthy for me. You want to bless me because You are so good. You want to use me because You planned to do so before the world began. So I simply believe Your goodness and receive Your blessing. I open my heart to Your best and I rest in Your Finished Work. Everything You wrote about me shall come to pass in my life before I die! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
