September 10: Insight Post by Rusty Coram

  -   September 10, 2025

Trusting God’s Plan: Even when we don’t understand, we can trust God’s plan is good.

Wednesday Verse

Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for He chose us in advance, and He makes everything work out according to His plan. Ephesians 1:11 (NLT)

Wednesday Questions

What is one area of my life where I need to trust God’s plan more fully? How can I deepen my faith, believing that even when I don’t understand, God’s plan is always good and He is working everything out according to His purpose?

Wednesday Insight Post
by Rusty Coram

In our reading this week, something really caught my attention. As we see in Luke’s record, Jesus is regularly being hounded by His critics, “One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.) Luke 5:17 (NLT). As the story unfolds, it is clear that they only pursue Jesus to criticize and demean Him. We see this happen time and time again. What amazes me about Jesus is that (1) He isn’t distracted by these high-powered enemies and (2) He, with genuine grace, continues to show them the truth.

I know that some of us might have limited our public appearances to avoid these attackers. Others would be more inclined to utterly humiliate these pompous antagonists and teach them a lesson. But Jesus shows us the better way. In this instance, and others, He clearly exposes their error while inviting them to see the light of truth. He forgives and heals the man whose friends brought him without any hint of fear, timidity, or bravado. In the midst of this, Jesus chooses to speak and show “the truth in love” even to those whom He knows are later going to be instigating His arrest and execution. Amazing!

Reflecting on this reminds me of a passage in the Bible that can help us all be more like Jesus, especially when dealing with critics:

“Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. ¹⁸ Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. ¹⁹ Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,

“I will take revenge;
I will pay them back,”
says the Lord.

²⁰ Instead,
“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap
burning coals of shame on their heads.”

²¹ Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.”
Romans 12:17–21 (NLT)

Rusty Coram
Senior Pastor

New Hope Church
Lorton, Virginia
www.newhope.org