Human plans will fail, but God’s will not
by Carolyn Ehrlich
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… if this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail (Acts 5:38b).
Read Acts 5:27–42
A Pharisee named Gamaliel noticed an important trend that was happening at the time of the early church – human plans failed, but God’s did not. It was not wise to try and work out which were plans of human origin and which were of God. Rather, Gamaliel advised the council to take care and to keep away from the apostles. Fast forward 2000 years. What is happening in today’s world?
I look at verse 37, which explains how Judas the Galilean drew people to him, but he perished, and his followers were scattered. Presently, many of us are concerned about our dwindling church attendance. We are often tempted to look to music styles, personalities or our leaders to take responsibility and act in ways that attract people into our churches. But what were the apostles doing? They were preaching and teaching. Peter said, ‘we must obey God rather than any human authority’ (Acts 5:29). And for their trouble, the apostles were beaten and instructed not to speak in the name of Jesus (Acts 5:40).
This says to me that we must obey God. We must preach and teach Jesus’ name. Models of Sunday worship that are concerned with theatrics – sound, colour, stage presence, mood-lighting, the quality of the coffee that is being served, how charismatic the preacher/pastor is – rather than the teaching need to be careful to ascertain whether they are plans of God or human origin. If they are plans or an undertaking of humans, they will fail. If they are of God, they will not fail. We need to look at the skills and talents that God has provided us for his glory and honour. We may need to take stock of what we are doing, and we may need to repent and obey.
Another important aspect of this Scripture seems to be that the apostles did not have things easy. They were arrested, humiliated, beaten by the authorities. But their response was to rejoice; they were thankful that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonour for the name of Jesus. So, even if circumstances seem to be difficult in your church, even if it seems that the secular world is beating you about, if your work is to honour and glorify God, then God’s plan will never fail and you can rejoice in that truth.
Heavenly Father, thank you that we are your people. Thank you that we are your church. Thank you that you have a plan and that your plan is perfect. Help us to obey you. Where we have failed to do your will, to preach and teach, we are sorry. Forgive us when we have focused on our plans rather than on doing your will. Help us to rejoice, even when things are challenging. Help your church to reject becoming caught up in anything that is not of you. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.
Carolyn Ehrlich lives in retirement with her husband Wayne in Ipswich, Queensland. Prior to retirement, Carolyn worked as a researcher in the fields of disability and rehabilitation. Today, Carolyn is kept busy with hobbies, supporting the Ipswich Lutheran Parish in various leadership roles and supporting her family.
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