May 5, 2017

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com.

1. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee.
2. My daughter calls me a pessimist because I like to plan for contingencies that might happen in the future. But I think we would all like to know a little bit of what will happen next so we can be prepared. Does that make me a pessimist?
3. Scripture
   1. John 21:7-8
   2. Jesus: The Father, on His own authority, has determined the ages and epochs of history, but you have not been given this knowledge. Here’s the knowledge you need: you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. And you will be My witnesses, first here in Jerusalem, then beyond to Judea and Samaria, and finally to the farthest places on earth.
4. Devotional
   1. I was putting together some information a few months ago in preparation for things that I hope will never happen to me or my family.
      1. Daughter saw me gathering the information
      2. “Dad, do you consider yourself an optimist or a pessimist?”
      3. Optimist, I like to think I look on the bright side of things
      4. “Then why are you always planning for the worst case?”
   2. Good question that made me start thinking about how I approach some of the bigger problems that can confront us in life.
      1. Insurance - life and health
      2. Shelter
      3. Provision for family
      4. How to leave a legacy of values for family
      5. Not a survivalist, but prepare for disasters
   3. Some of the thought process comes from military training
      1. Strategic planner during military career
      2. Built plans around contingencies
      3. “What if” thinking to avoid surprises that shook you to inaction
      4. Crossed over to thought process in other things
   4. I don’t necessarily see planning for contingencies as pessimism, but…
      1. We can go too far and miss life
      2. Jesus warned early Christians to perform a task instead of trying to guess when He would return
      3. He had a job He wanted them to do
      4. If they spent all of their time planning for the contingency of His return, no one would hear the good news of His power to forgive sins
      5. Enough that God knows the future and will take care of the ages and epochs of history
      6. Enough that God gives us His spirit to enable us to do the work He gives us to do
      7. Enough that we can concentrate on the work at hand and not worry about what comes tomorrow, He has those contingencies covered
   5. Knowing the future is already determined and taken care of by the Commander of heavenly armies, how does that make you feel about contingency planning?
      1. The future is in His hands and He has your best in mind.
      2. So are you an optimist or a pessimist about tomorrow?
      3. With Him on your side, how can you be anything but an optimist?
5. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."