If the Lord Permits

 DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

IF THE LORD PERMITS

1 Cor 16:5-9

5 After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you — for I will be going through Macedonia. 6 Perhaps I will stay with you awhile, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go. 7 I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. 8 But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, 9 because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.

NIV

We have come to the closing remarks of this letter with Paul talking about his plans to visit with them, but not for a brief time, but for the winter months. However, there is something, a comment that Paul made which strikes a chord with us, “If the Lord permits”. All the other letters Paul wrote have been included in the Canon, making them considered words inspired by the Spirit. Nevertheless, even if this particular comment was not fully inspired, but rather Paul’s explanation of his plans, he is only making plans under the influence of the Spirit. His plans are good only if the Lord permits them. This should give us a clue as to whatever plans we might be thinking of making. It reminds us of the Proverb by the wisest man to live, as he said that in his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. It is so easy to plan or course, the path of our life, what we are to do as far as work, where we want to live, when we want to retire, and even travel. Yet, it would seem we better include with our plans the fact that they depend on the permission of the Lord. This would mean we best not determine any of our future without first consulting with the Lord. Maybe we should just go ahead with our plans that are in our hearts unless the Lord stops us. This may not have anything to do with whether we are going to mow the lawn today, go to the store for food, put gas in our car, or any of the other daily mundane chores, but then again it could matter. The Hebrew word used as course has the meaning of the course of life, that is the way we live, our plans for our future days, and where we want to be in life. That would include either our career, profession, or our employment as well as where we live, and that includes the very street and house we live in. This is the course of our life, our plans for our way in life, which as a believer includes the way we serve the Lord, that is our calling, or gift the Spirit has empowered us with. We had better make sure before we jump into any area of service, it better be what the Lord permits. Of course, if we are listening to the Spirit, then we will be traveling the steps the Lord has directed for us. Then, there is this other thought that we can just go ahead and plan away, for God is the one who will direct our steps, or our plans, which again, we would think would require hearing from the Spirit. What it comes down to is that we should always live according to “If the Lord permits”.