imported_rachel
04-22-2007, 03:29 PM
The subject of God's will is often one of great concern to growing
Christians. Those who have accepted the forgiving grace of Jesus now
have a desire to live a life which brings Him glory and honor. We
have read we are to present ourselves as "living sacrifices, holy and
pleasing to God" (Romans 12:1), and we're ready to do His will; but
what does God want us to do, where does He want us to go?
Fortunately, much of God's will is found directly in His Word. It's
God's will that we live a pure and holy life (1 Thessalonians 4:3-7),
and obey His commands (John 15:10). It's God's will that we love Him
with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30), that we
remain in Him and bear much fruit (John 15:1-8), that we forgive
others (Matthew 6:14-15), love others (1 John 4:7), and share the
message of Jesus with others (Matthew 28:19-20). It's also God's
will to "be joyful always; pray continuously; {and} give thanks in
all circumstances" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
This list is not complete, but it's a good sampling of what is
referred to as God's "general" will - His will for all His children
as we are "conformed to the likeness of His Son" (Romans
8:29). God's general will involves a lifetime of worship and abiding
in His presence. We still must pray for guidance and strength in
following His general will, but we need not desperately search - His
general will has already been revealed in His Word.
But God's "specific" will for our life comes as a very direct, clear,
and persistent call. This call is perhaps best demonstrated in the
life of Jonah.
Jonah 1:2
"Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its
wickedness has come up before Me."
God's specific will for Jonah was clear and with a definite
purpose. Jonah then had a choice whether to obey and follow. Jonah
tried to run from God's will - run from Nineveh - and spent three
days inside a giant fish. After the fish vomited Jonah onto dry
land, God calmly revealed His will a second time; "Go to the great
city of Nineveh..." (Jonah 3:2). God's call remained exactly the
same; His specific will for Jonah was unchanged. This time, "Jonah
obeyed the word of the Lord" (Jonah 3:3).
There are vast portions of God's will which are already revealed in
His Word. We must develop the discipline of reading and studying His
Word - studying His will - and then follow what He has already
commanded. And for the part of God's will which is specific to our
life, we must listen intently, pray diligently, and wait very
patiently. But when His specific direction arrives (and we will know
when God calls) we must be prepared to abandon all else and boldly
follow Him to Nineveh!
Have a Great Day!
Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries
************************************************** ***
Archive of previous devotions : http://www.gdwm.org/archive07.htm
Subscribe/Unsubscribe by email to closerwalk@gdwm.org
Subscribe via web: http://www.gdwm.org/subscribe.htm
Christians. Those who have accepted the forgiving grace of Jesus now
have a desire to live a life which brings Him glory and honor. We
have read we are to present ourselves as "living sacrifices, holy and
pleasing to God" (Romans 12:1), and we're ready to do His will; but
what does God want us to do, where does He want us to go?
Fortunately, much of God's will is found directly in His Word. It's
God's will that we live a pure and holy life (1 Thessalonians 4:3-7),
and obey His commands (John 15:10). It's God's will that we love Him
with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30), that we
remain in Him and bear much fruit (John 15:1-8), that we forgive
others (Matthew 6:14-15), love others (1 John 4:7), and share the
message of Jesus with others (Matthew 28:19-20). It's also God's
will to "be joyful always; pray continuously; {and} give thanks in
all circumstances" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
This list is not complete, but it's a good sampling of what is
referred to as God's "general" will - His will for all His children
as we are "conformed to the likeness of His Son" (Romans
8:29). God's general will involves a lifetime of worship and abiding
in His presence. We still must pray for guidance and strength in
following His general will, but we need not desperately search - His
general will has already been revealed in His Word.
But God's "specific" will for our life comes as a very direct, clear,
and persistent call. This call is perhaps best demonstrated in the
life of Jonah.
Jonah 1:2
"Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its
wickedness has come up before Me."
God's specific will for Jonah was clear and with a definite
purpose. Jonah then had a choice whether to obey and follow. Jonah
tried to run from God's will - run from Nineveh - and spent three
days inside a giant fish. After the fish vomited Jonah onto dry
land, God calmly revealed His will a second time; "Go to the great
city of Nineveh..." (Jonah 3:2). God's call remained exactly the
same; His specific will for Jonah was unchanged. This time, "Jonah
obeyed the word of the Lord" (Jonah 3:3).
There are vast portions of God's will which are already revealed in
His Word. We must develop the discipline of reading and studying His
Word - studying His will - and then follow what He has already
commanded. And for the part of God's will which is specific to our
life, we must listen intently, pray diligently, and wait very
patiently. But when His specific direction arrives (and we will know
when God calls) we must be prepared to abandon all else and boldly
follow Him to Nineveh!
Have a Great Day!
Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries
************************************************** ***
Archive of previous devotions : http://www.gdwm.org/archive07.htm
Subscribe/Unsubscribe by email to closerwalk@gdwm.org
Subscribe via web: http://www.gdwm.org/subscribe.htm