A remarkable difference between a
believer in Christ and the unregenerated is the former’s total yieldedness to
the will of God.
The sinner by nature cannot obey
or carry out God’s will. He or she is controlled by self-will – the will of man
– and daily desires to satisfy the cravings of the flesh. But as for the
believer, his/her heart thirsts and pants after God’s will for therein lies his
or her victory and success in life.
The true believer, like his/her
Master and Saviour, declares plainly to all and sundry in words and deeds: “my meat is to do the will of Him that sent
me, and to finish His work. I seek not my own will, but the will of the Father
which hath sent me” (John 4:34, 5:30).
To glorify and worship the Lord in
thoughts, words and deeds are the believer’s ambitions. Moreover, through
prayer, diligent searching of the Scriptures and counseling from Spirit-filled
Bible believing Christian leaders, the true believer finds out what the will of
God is for him/her in every area of his/her life. His/her understanding of what
the will of God is for his/her makes him/her to be more committed in doing it.
However, God’s revealed will for
us may be contrary to our expectations, unpleasant to the flesh and
dissatisfying to well-wishers and sympathizers. Yet, true believers will
receive this with joy and “in everything
give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning them” (1
Thessalonians 5:18).
It is God’s will that we should
be sanctified and live in holiness (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Also, the uprightness
of character that God expects us to maintain in our relationship to sinners and
rulers is explicitly outlined in 1 Peter 2:11-17. Our consecration and
commitment to holy living and obedience to civil authorities, as much as this
does not conflict with the Scriptures, is part of God’s will for us in order to
silence the ignorant and the foolish.
Nevertheless, we are not to be
conformed to this world as we are but strangers and pilgrims here on earth. Essentially,
whatever will take salvation from us, defeat our testimony in Christ or diminish
God’s glory in our lives is not the will of God.
As Christians, it behooves on us
to daily examine ourselves whether we are still in the faith and doing the will
of God. For those who know and do God’s will are those that Christ recognizes
as His brother, sister and mother (Mark 3:35; Matthew 12:50; Luke 8:21).
Mere profession of Christ as Lord,
regular church attendance, giving of tithes and offerings, attending vigils and engaging in other church programs do not guarantee entrance into the kingdom of God. Only
those who do the will of God will abide in the presence of the Lord forever.
Now, in all honesty and sincerity
of heart ask yourself this question: are you doing the will of God for your
life?
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