Understanding God’s Will[1]

Devotional

“What is God’s will for my life?” This question has surely been asked by every Christian as they wrestle with how they should devote themselves to the service of their Lord. Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions circulating within American Christendom about the will of God. Some believe that it is impossible to definitively know God’s will for their life because of the notion that God is largely detached from the affairs of everyday life. Some suggest that discerning the will of God can only be accomplished through undergoing a personal, mystical encounter with the Divine. Still others maintain that God’s will for mankind is always changing, so to insinuate that God has any objective expectations for how one should live is fallacious at best and legalistic at worst.

Perhaps the most alarming commonality between the multitude of competing theories about discerning the will of God is that they are often divorced from the primary means by which God communicates with humanity: the Holy Bible. Many people have a tendency to look for God in all of the wrong places, as if He is playing a cosmic game of “Hide and Go Seek.” On the contrary, it is the nature of our Creator to clearly reveal Himself to those He has fashioned in His own image. God has graciously provided humanity with His own unchanging self-disclosure, in order to direct us in how we can have a personal relationship with Him and how we can devote our lives to bringing Him glory. If we are to accurately understand the will of God, we must look intently to the one place where God has authoritatively spoken on this most important subject.

When surveying the totality of what the Bible has to say about the will of God, theologians have historically made key distinctions to effectively navigate through the vast commentary on this weighty topic. First, the Bible makes reference to the ontological will of God, referring to the volition that God possesses by nature as Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:6). Secondly, the Bible often reflects on the decretive will of God, referring to the eternal plan of history that God is bringing to pass on a daily basis (Isaiah 46:9; Ephesians 1:11). Thirdly, Scripture also presents the commanded will of God, referring to the guidelines that God has graciously provided to direct His people in how they can live in a manner that is pleasing to Him (Psalm 37:4; Philippians 1:27). Because God’s ontological will is applicable to Him alone (Isaiah 45:5) and because God’s decretive will cannot be known by us in advance (Romans 11:33-35), our consideration of God’s will for our lives must center on how the Bible discusses this third category distinction. When reflecting on what God has explicitly revealed throughout the Bible, there are six observable components to the commanded will of God for our lives:

1. The first key step to being in the center of God’s will for your life is to surrender your life to Jesus Christ (Mark 1:15). God commands all human beings to repent of their sins and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved (Acts 17:30-31). This is to be expected, because God is a Savior by His own nature (1 Timothy 4:10). Upon contemplating how we can discern God’s commanded will for our lives, we must begin with our own need for salvation.
2. Upon being saved, God commands all of His people to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18-21). The idea here is that one’s behavior is progressively growing into further conformity to the likeness of Jesus Christ. This is accomplished by the work of the indwelling Holy Spirit, empowering the Christian to apply the truths of the Word of God to his life (Colossians 3:16). As the Christian feeds on Scripture and draws near to the Lord in prayer, the fruit of a Spirit-filled life will be further evidenced (Galatians 5:22-23).
3. God commands His people to be sanctified: to be set apart from the world in one’s moral conduct (1 Thessalonians 4:3-6). Christians were bought at a price and their bodies are not their own (1 Corinthians 6:20). As a temple of God, the Believer is to forsake the lustful temptations that try to entice their body into sin (Hebrews 12:1). Christians are to regard themselves as earthen vessels to worship God and to joyfully serve Him out of a gratitude for all that He has done for them in Christ (Romans 12:1-2). In doing so, the Believer will discover that the commands of God are not burdensome, but the source of true freedom (1 John 5:3).
4. Another key element of God’s commanded will is to be submissive to the authorities in this life (1 Peter 2:13-20). God has ordained several channels of authority in this world that Believers are to be submissive to out of a reverence for Him. Children are to submit to their parents in the household (Ephesians 6:1-4), wives are to submit to their husbands (Eph. 5:22-33), church members are to submit to the elders of their local church (Hebrews 13:17) and so long as doing so does not lead to sin, civilians are to submit to their governmental authorities (Romans 13:1-7). The Christian’s posture of willfully submitting to the authorities God has installed in this world can prove to be a powerful witnessing tool (1 Peter 2:21-25).
5. As sojourners in this temporal realm, Christians often find themselves not “fitting in” with the rest of the world. To some extent, it is inevitable that there will be persecution and trials in this life for the Believer (Romans 5:3-5; James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-9). Followers of Jesus Christ are called to share in the earthly sufferings of their Lord as part of God’s commanded will in Scripture (Romans 8:17; Philippians 3:10; 1 Peter 4:13). Regardless of what hardships the child of God encounters in this life, he can rest assured that they are for their eternal good and for God’s supreme glory (Romans 8:28).
6. The final observable component of God’s commanded will that can be observed in Scripture is the charge to be thankful in every circumstance (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Every gift that we receive in this life comes from the hand of a holy and righteous God (James 1:17). What do we have that we have not ultimately received from Him (1 Corinthians 4:7)? Although life is not always easy, Christians can rejoice in that they have inherited every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3-14). This reality alone is sufficient grounds for our perpetual thankfulness!

The will of God is not a mystery to be solved, but rather, is objective truth for us to know and apply to our lives. When we ask, “what is God’s will for my life?,” we must consider whether or not we are presently living in accordance to what He has commanded us to do in Scripture. Because God is sovereign, we don’t have to ever fear that our own decisions will ever thwart or hinder God’s plans for our future. When embarking on our own decision-making processes, we should certainly pursue Godly counsel (Proverbs 12:15; 13:10; etc), pray for wisdom (James 1:5-8) and thoroughly examine our options prior to making a final decision (Luke 14:28-32). But most importantly, we should ensure that the decisions we make enable us to be in adherence with God’s commanded will for our lives. As you meditate on any upcoming decisions that you will have to make in the future, ensure that your choices will lead you into obeying what God has clearly commanded of us in His Word. Do not be foolish, but understand what the will of God is (Ephesians 5:17)!

Devotional

Monday- 2 Peter 3:3-9

Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” 5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. 7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

Tuesday- Ephesians 5:17-21

17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

Wednesday- 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more. 2 For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. 8 So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.

Thursday- 1 Peter 2:13-17, 20

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, 14 or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. 15 For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. 16 Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God. 17 Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king… what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.

Friday- 1 Peter 4:12-19

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner? 19 Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

Saturday- 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24

12 But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, 13 and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. 14 We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. 16 Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench the Spirit; 20 do not despise prophetic utterances. 21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; 22 abstain from every form of evil. 23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.

[1] The principles developed in this devotional can be further examined in Dr. John MacArthur’s “Found: God’s Will.” The reader is greatly encouraged to review that resource for a more thorough treatment on the issue of discerning the will of God.