HOW DO WE KNOW THE WILL OF GOD?
How often has each of us struggled with an important
decision? We’ve considered the alternatives,
and often discussed the decision with family and friends. Sometimes we’ve prayed over it and sought
God's direction. We ask ourselves, "What
does God want me to do?" Unfortunately,
there’s some confusion about the subject of the will of God. Even among believers.
The words, "It’s God’s will," are sometimes used
too freely I think. God gets credit for
a whole lot of things that have more to do with human will than God’s. A catastrophe happens and people say glibly,
"It's his will." We sometimes
do inappropriate things and pass them off by saying God willed that we did it,
mainly because it’s something we really wanted to do. Beyond that, we often talk about searching for
the will of God as if it were somehow lost and needs to be found.
So how do we know the will of God? I mean REALLY know…
Christ’s sacrifice… his death, resurrection, and ascension… are
an open gift for all who choose to accept it.
Not everybody will, but the offer is on the table for anyone. God won’t will us to do things to negate that
gift. (Matthew 7: 21-27) The Bible
tells us that God desires that all people to be saved and come to the knowledge
of the truth. To be lovingly rescued
from the ravages of sin in our existence.
To not have Jesus is to be firmly in sin's control. Conversely, to have faith in the Son of God is
to be alive to our full creative potential as he controls our lives.
A cross and a vacant grave have secured our salvation. And Jesus, unlike any of the gods in other
religions, is the God who wants actual
relationship with us. Those who know him
personally will be well on their way to knowing His will. If you’ve said, "I believe in Jesus
Christ as my Savior," you’ve taken the first step. Remembering that he wants to hear that from
others as well, will guide choices that might influence their decision to
accept the gift of Grace too. But He won’t
ever contradict himself...
The second step in knowing the will of God is to live Spirit-filled.
The second step in knowing the will of God is to live Spirit-filled.
In Ephesians 5:17-18
we read, "Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the
Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled
with the Spirit." More than a few
of us are fairly well qualified to discuss what it's like to be filled with wine
or some other substance or attitudinal addiction. It lowers inhibitions, impairs judgement, and
impacts reactions. Not being sober, is opening
ourselves to be controlled by a sin nature within. How do we avoid that?
We also act differently when we have the Spirit within us. When we’re filled with the Holy Spirit, we open
ourselves to being controlled God’s
nature within us. We may have no more
control over ourselves than we would have if we were drunk on alcohol, but it
is without the horrific outcomes and consequences. To be filled in the Spirit is to be dominated
and guided by the Spirit as it moves within us… being directed by His will.
The third step is to do whatever you want to do.
The third step is to do whatever you want to do.
That's right, I said it. Do what you want when you have a decision to
make. But only after you’ve managed
steps one and two! In the Book
of Psalms (37: 3-5) we read,
"Delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your
heart." Notice that it says the
desires of our hearts are given to us by God when we delight in him. If
our only delight is God… if our hearts are filled with joy by God’s presence in
them… then it stands to reason that our desires will be for whatever God
desires. His will becomes our will, and our desires are inspired by that.
Again, the third step is only possible when we have taken
the steps of believing and being filled by the Holy Spirit. In growing in Faith and increasing our time
reading the Scriptures, we can begin to trust following our desires; because
they’re really God's anyway!
Will we make mistakes?
Probably. But that’s okay. God will be there every step along the way,
giving corrections when needed, strength when yours falters, and joy when
everything seems to be falling apart. With
this insight, I’m renewed for the journey of faith. I am able to move along on
the road ahead even when I don’t know where it will end. I can realize that the
fact that I think I am following God’s will, doesn’t always mean that I am
actually doing so. But I can also know that my desire to follow Jesus does in
fact please Him… and if I desire only to please Him in all that I do, He will
lead me back to the right road even when I don’t know which road I’m on. And of course He'll always remind us to...
Love in Christ always,
Chris
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