The Will of God, Part One
What is the will of God for me? What is God’s will for my life? What is God’s perfect will for me? We all have asked ourselves these questions. The scriptures have a lot to say about what God wants for us and from us. Purpose is the hot topic these days, and the purpose driven life is foremost in the minds of the Christian. If you are in the will of God, certainly you must be living out purpose. So let us take a look at what God has to say about his will.
Let’s look at two things that are always God’s will. First, God wants all men to be saved. John 3:16 says, “This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.” (The Message) Now that we know God wants all men to be saved, he wants us to make sure everyone knows about it. Mark 16:15 says, “…Go, ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Of course the gospel is the good news about God’s son, Jesus, who died in order that we might have a whole and lasting life.
Secondly, God wants all to come to the knowledge of the truth. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine (showing us truth), for reproof (exposing our rebellion), for correction (correcting our mistakes), for instruction in righteousness (training us to live God’s way). That the man of God may be perfect thoroughly furnished unto all good work. Timothy 3:16-17. The message bible puts verse 17 like this: “Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us”. God has a will and a purpose for you. The thing is we need to stop thinking about “I” and start thinking about “God” and what he has already established in his Word. When we are busy obeying the revealed knowledge concerning God’s will, we then find ourselves in purpose and in the will of God.
According to Roman 12:1-2, we have a lot to do with experiencing the perfect will of God. JB Phillips puts it this way, “With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him.” We hear this all the time. “Present your body as a living sacrifice.” We understand what it means to make a sacrifice, we do it every day. We go without one thing in order to have another thing. Parents sacrifice so that their children can have a better life than they had. We often sacrifice spending money in order to save money. Are you willing to sacrifice your desires in order to grow spiritually? Can you sacrifice your needs in order for the will of God be fulfilled in your life? Intelligent worship understands the spiritual significance of giving to God our everyday, ordinary lives as a sacrifice, as an offering. The Old Testament version of sacrifice was giving to God the best of what they had so that their sins would be forgiven and in order to stay in good standing with God. We sacrifice ourselves, spiritually, in order to be available for God’s use. JB Phillips goes on to say, “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God re-make you so that your whole attitude of mind is changed.” This is our responsibility. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God , and the Spirit of God dwells in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16. This is one of six things that make up the “acceptable and perfect will of God”, according to Romans 12:1-2.
Next week I will continue the theme of “The Will of God”. As usual, your comments or questions are welcomed.
In His service,
