38 For if this plan or this work is of human origin, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even be found fighting against God.” (Acts 5:38b-39a CSB)
Robert Burns, in 1786, penned the poem To a Mouse as an apology to upturning a mouse’s nest while ploughing a field. Within this poem is the phrase that we have adapted from the original, ”The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men, Gang aft agley” into ”The best laid schemes (or plans) of mice and men, go astray.”
I have often said, ”we make our plans and God laughs.”
Scripture, however, paints a different pictures of our plans when they are put in place by God. In fact it points out that if we are not tracking with God we may find ourselves fighting against him. But God will not be turned aside when he sets us to a task.
Thus, we are at our best when we align our plans with God’s by going first to Him to ask for insight and discernment. When we begin with God’s desires he will give us our desires.
Our scripture today also denotes what will happen to plans that are not in alignment with God’s will. They will ultimately fail. We do not want to find ourselves either outside of God’s will or at worst fighting against Him. How much easier the life lived focused upon following God’s guidance.
And when we do not know the right path we must do what is against the human will and be patient for some type of direction from God. If we do not receive an answer we must move forward with a willingness to change as God directs.
