Luke 17:28-32
This is actually, more of a lesson than a devotional, and although a bit lengthy, I believe that God is wanting us to gain something from it! So, if you give me a little bit of your time, I believe that this lesson will cause us to walk into some of our dreams, goals, and visions, instead of in a life, settled by "good intentions."
How many of you have had "good intentions", only to find out that, "good intentions" can lead to bad results? Well, today, we are going to dive into some deep territory, that will surely clear up for some of us, why we have found ourselves gasping for air, when it comes to, where we have landed in life! We're going to get to the bottom of, just how the enemy can take over our so-called "good intentions" and turn them into bad results! And how little by little, our good intentions can result in emptiness, complacency, and even down right disobedience! I will prove to you, that "right intentions" don't always lead to "right-eous" living! Don't believe me? Let's re-visit the story of Lot and his infamous wife; more affectionately known as, the "piller of salt." ....In this famous story, Lot finds himself following his uncle, Abraham, to reside around the entrance of the Promised Land. However, once arrived, it is realized that, there was not enough room for both families and all of their belongings in this one spot; so Lot is given a choice between residing in the vicinity of the Promised Land or residing in the vicinity of Sodom; a city, bustling with financial opportunity, greed, and sin! In steps, "good intention"!!! I mean, afterall, everybody needs money right? and surely, God wants him to be in a position to give his family the finer things in life, right? So, low and behold, Lot decides to settle his family right in the vicinity (which is in the shadow) of Sodom (which is sin)! for his very own gain! I'm sure that he meant well, but here is where his good intention turned to a God-less result! Lot is probably thinking, "why live on the outskirts of where I make my money, when I can just move closer to my money! I still love the Lord; I can still pray; I just won't allow my family to be a part of Sodom's lifestyle!" ....Well, for those of you who know the story, Lot's good intentions resulted in him losing his family to the lifestyles of Sodom anyway! God decides to destroy Sodom and everyone in it; however, His Grace turns Lot's near ruin, into a rescue of Mercy! Notice here, how good intention gets worse! God's Angels, lead Lot and his family out of Sodom so that they can be saved from destruction (Oh, the goodness of Jesus)! But, he gives clear warning and commandment, that they are not to look back on the destruction! This is where good intentions can become not only costly, but deadly! Lot's wife looks back towards all of the things that she regretted leaving; and although her "intentions" were to leave with her husband and be saved! Disobedience was far more powerful than her greatest intention!! The disobedience wasn't in her turning her head, but that "turning her head towards Sodom" was in outright disobedience of God's instruction!! and she turned into a "piller of salt!" Mrs. Lot's good intention, was not good enough! Lot had gone from a place of security and thanksgiving, to a place of residing outside of the Will of God! "Good intentions" can be "void" of God's will for your life; especially when there's something or someone, who is the driving source of your good intentions, other than God Himself!
RIGHT INTENTIONS, MUST BE POWERED BY A RIGHT-EOUS GOD!! Good intentions have a way of stepping outside of wise and Godly counsel or commands, which is why Mrs. Lot lost her soul! In Lot's case good intentions, lead to wrong doing; but in many cases, good intentions can also lead to doing...NOTHING AT ALL! which is another kind of danger all in itself! Lot found out the hard way, that good intentions, outside of God-intentions, can lead to disaster!!
P.S. Beware of the other side of good intentions that lead to a lack of motivation!
So many times we allow good intentions to rob us of our blessings! It's because we use this phrase as a way of minimizing our wrong outcomes! Kind of a much needed excuse for our laziness and lack of drive!! If we can blame something on "good intentions", we somehow feel a sense of exoneration (free from the responsibility or guilt of our actions OR THE LACK OF!), and soon we find ourselves doing absolutely NOTHING as a result of our greatest intention!
NOW THE GOOD NEWS:
GOD'S GRACE AND MERCY, STILL HAS "RESCUING" POWER!!! Which means that my "bad" result, can turn into a God-result!!! and it means, that God, can take my "good" intention, and turn it into a God-intention!!! so that, HE gets the glory!!! HALLELUJAH!!!! TO THE GOD OF OUR RESCUE!! THE GOD OF RIGHTEOUS INTENT! AND THE GOD OF OUR EXPECTED END!!
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