God’s Plan

Fill a basket with the objects listed below and have it visible as the program is given.

Introduction

God has offered salvation to whosoever will believe and after salvation He has a plan for our spiritual growth. Let us look at some simple things to learn some of His truths and discover Hiss plan for our lives.

In my sewing basket I find several things that tell me about God and His plan for me.

Pattern

God’s plan for our lives is a blueprint for success. “Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting” (Titus 2:7)

If God’s perfect will were done in our lives, we would be saved at an early age, taught in His Word and work, and then become productive members of His church. However, too many people think they can live their lives by their own plan, and get entangled with the wrong choices.

The dressmaker selects the proper pattern to make the garment she needs. She uses much care, realizing the pattern will be the most important decision. Once the material is cut, only minor changes may be made.

Scissors

God’s will is much like a pair of scissors. He cuts away unnecessary things from our lives and in the process He cuts out the best for us. “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).

When a seamstress begins to make a dress, she first cuts away the excess from the pattern pieces, then lays them upon the material and cuts out “dress pieces.” She is very careful to follow the pattern directions if she wants the dress to fit and look nice when it is finished. She may need to trim as she goes along, but the shape and design are set by the pattern and scissors as the garment is cut out.

Needle and Thread

The needle represents the Holy Spirit. “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come” (John 16:13). He guides the thread of experiences, bastes, then stitches; the work comes together and stays firm in spite of difficulty or stress. As the needle binds a garment together, so the Holy Spirit will guard and guide the believer. The choices we make in life will determine many of our experiences. Some we cannot predict, but the Lord will be with us through them all.

Sometimes we experience problems and the colors are dark, but when joy comes they are light and bright. “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning” (Psalm 30: 5). From the backside of the material the sewing thread may look tangled and loose, but on the top of the material the stitches are even and straight.

Thimble

The thimble represents prayer. “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Ephesians 6: 18). The thimble protects against pricks and helps the needle go through thick places. There would be many hurts without the use of the thimble.

Pins

Pins represent people. Pins are used to hold material together before stitching. “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Galatians 6: 2). The pins represent people in our life that we come in contact with day by day. Some help to hold us together until we are stabilized and others seem to always prick us and cause us to develop tolerance, patience, and compassion. “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12: 18).

Tape Measure

The tape measure symbolizes evaluation. “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves; but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you” (II Corinthians 10: 12, 13). We must have a daily evaluation followed by repentance for the sins we commit and praise for the victories God has given.

All of these tools from our sewing basket help us to see how God works through us, and success comes only when we have yielded to His will.