Does God have a particular set of desires for your life, and your everyday living? And, if He does, how much do you want His will to determine and guide your steps?
WHAT IS THE WILL OF GOD?
The Christian Bible, and particularly the New Testament Scripture books, speak often about the will of God. Actually, the idea of "the will" of God is used in a spectrum of ways.
First, God's "will" can refer to his OVERALL SOVEREIGN PLAN. Ephesians 1:11 says that "God works all things together in keeping with the counsel of His will." Sovereignty means that God is free to direct the grand scheme of human history, and any of its details, to accomplish an outcome that fully displays His glory and grace. In this sense of the word "will," then, you and I are inevitably imbedded in His grand scheme.
We can discover this "will of God" by reading the Scriptures and getting from them the sense and plan of what God is out to accomplish in human history. Still, some portions of this will of God are discovered only after God has acted.
Second, God's "will" can refer to his CALL TO LIVE AN OBEDIENT, SPIRIT-EMPOWERED LIFE, one which exhibits a growing in Christlikeness. An example of this is what Paul wrote to the Thessalonians. "Now this is the will of God for you, that is, your sanctification; namely, that you abstain from sexual impurity" (1 Thess 4:3).
Romans 12:2 is an example of this use of the phrase "will of God." When our minds are renewed with God's Word, we have the opportunity through the Holy Spirit to live out the righteousness God has given us by faith, so that we express in living what is "good and acceptable and mature." In short, growing Christlikeness...and in Romans 12, that Christlikeness looks like using your "measure of faith" to serve the Body of Christ (12:3-8), and to love fellow Christians and others (12:9-21).
Frankly, it is easy to discover this will of God for us. It is clearly revealed and stated in the Scriptures. And when we read it, we have the choice to "be" in God's will (by obeying) or "not to be" in God's will, by disobeying or ignoring.
Third, God's "will" is used of HIS DESIRE FOR CERTAIN THINGS TO HAPPEN, WHICH MAY NOT. For example, Peter writes "God does not wish (or God is not willing) that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). However, the reality is that some have perished because they did not repent, and some will. This use of the word "will" expresses God's desire, but not what He insists will happen (i.e., He will not coerce repentance from anyone).
Finally, God's "will" is used to describe GOD'S PARTICULAR CALLINGS IN YOUR LIFE AS HIS SON OR DAUGHTER, callings that unique to you, and not necessarily to be applied to others. He may call you to be married (1 Corinthians 7) or to remain single. He may call you to a particular vocation, or to live in a particular place in the world. The book of Acts illustrates that different Christians had different leadings and callings from God that were unique to them (Stephen's calling was different from Paul's, Peter's was different from Barnabas'). God's will in each of our lives involves our responsiveness to Scripture and the Holy Spirit's particular urgings and leading in our lives. We each have a unique place in God's plan and His will "for me" can be discerned along the way.
DISCOVERING GOD'S WILL
The summary is that God's SOVEREIGN WILL He will accomplish. The grand scheme is His.
GOD'S EXPRESSED WILL is His direction for our growing in Christ found in the Scriptures. His will there is open and clear, written down for our use and obedience.
GOD'S DESIRED WILL are things He longs to happen, but because of the freedom He gives those made in His image, may or may not come about.
GOD'S PARTICULAR WILL for me, in addition to His expressed will, can be discovered through prayerful meditation on Scripture, praying to the Holy Spirit for His direction at key moments of decision in life, and seeking the counsel of wise and loving believers around us.
Bottom line - Let your wonderful Father have "his way" with you. Seek His will in all things, and run well the race before you.
Pastor - Have you read "It's Your Call" by Gary Barkalow? If so, would you agree with his specific uses of and distinctions between the words "role", "assignment" and "calling", where he treats "calling" more like "gifting"?
ReplyDeleteHi Todd, I've not read Barkalow's piece. So I'm unfamiliar with his particular distinctions. I'd likely agree that a gifting constitutes a call from God to usage of the gift, but my sense is that a calling is larger than personal gifting, though a calling can be expressed through using one's gifting.
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