WHAT IS GOD’S WILL?

God’s will may be explained broadly as obedience to him. Jesus taught his disciples said in Matthew 6: 10 Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Again, Jesus said of God’s will in Matthew 26: 42; Luke 22: 42 Your will be done. Jesus dovetailed his will with God’s will and plan hence he obeyed God always. What was good for God was good for him, and vice versa. 

How did Jesus teach God’s will?

Jesus said in John 8: 18, I testify on my own behalf, and the Father who sent me testifies on my behalf. He said in John 8: 28, I do nothing on my own, but I speak these things as the Father instructed me. Jesus said in John 8: 42, I did not come on my own, but he (God) sent me. He said in John 8: 50 Yet I do not seek my own glory, there is one who seeks it and he is the judge. Jesus discharged God’s will in the form of obedience to God. God demands obedience from us as His will. Jesus taught God’s will by living it.

How did Samuel teach God’s will?

The prophet Samuel found this truth of obedience and said in 1Samuel 15: 22, Surely, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. According to Samuel, the way to please God is to obey him rather than to offer any form of sacrifice. Given the option to choose between obedience to God and sacrifice to God, Samuel recommended obedience. Are we obedient to God as his will demands?  

How did Solomon teach God’s will?

King Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 5: 1… to draw near to listen is better than the sacrifice offered to fools. Wiseman Solomon discerned that it was more profitable to obey God than to obey mortals. Some rather obey mortals hoping to gain favours. Human promise is subject to God’s approval. God’s promise is however unfailing. Numbers 23: 19 says God is not a human being, that he should lie, or a mortal, that he should change his mind. Has he promised, and will he not do it? Has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? King Solomon wants us to listen to God rather than obey human beings. 

How did the prophets teach God’s will?

The prophets perceived God’s will as submitting to Him or not resisting God. Hebrews 3: 7-9, 15; 4: 7 say, “Today, if you hear his voice do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” Submission comes from obedience, not grounded on what we see but what God says. Jesus said in John 20: 29 Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe. Obedience is the soil from which God’s favour and presence is accessed or produced or born through faith, faithfulness and righteousness.

How did God interpret his will?

God’s will is that everyone must listen to Jesus. At Jesus’ baptism, the voice of God said in Matthew 17: 5; Mark 9: 7, This is my beloved Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him! (In other words, we must obey Jesus) God’s will draws us away from sin and only Jesus can save us. David said in Psalms 119: 11, I treasure your word in my heart, so that I may not sin against you. Failing to do God’s will leads to eternal death. 1Corinthians 6: 9 says wrongdoers will not inherit the Kingdom of God. No sin is exempted from God’s eternal punishment.

What is God’s provision for His will?

God has graciously given us His Son Christ Jesus who by his blood enables us to do His will, that is to obey Him. Philippians 4: 133 says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. If we believe in God, we will obey Him and his word of life. We cannot believe in God yet disobey Him. Romans 2: 13 says for it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but the doers of the law who will be justified. Obeying God’s will by his word of life will enable us to relate to Him better. Mark 3:35 says Whoever does the will of God is my brother and my sister and mother.  

What is the extent of God’s will?

God’s wills for our renewal. Paul wrote in Romans 12: 2-6, Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God– what is good and acceptable and perfect. God’s wills for our sanctification.  1 Thessalonians 4: 3 says for this is the will of God, your sanctification… to control your own body in holiness and honour… that no one wrong or exploit a brother or sister in this matter. (Read also Hebrews 10: 10). 

God wills that we always give thanks. 1 Thessalonians 5: 18 says give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. God wills for our obedience. Jeremiah quoted God in Jeremiah 11: 4 Listen to my voice and do all that I command you. So, you shall be my people, and I will be your God. God wills for our reverence for Jesus. Jesus said in John 18: 37 Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice. To listen to Jesus, we must know his voice. Jesus said in John 10: 27, My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. Do we know Jesus’ voice?

God wills that we glorify him. Psalms 22: 23 says All your offspring of Jacob, glorify him. 1Corinthians 6: 20 says glorify God in your body. Jesus said in Luke 11: 28 Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it. We glorify God when we worship him in spirit and in truth in every situation. John 4: 24 says God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. This is explained in John 9: 31, We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will.  Do we do God’s will?

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, help us by your Holy Spirit to apply ourselves to your will because of your love, grace, and sufficient grace which you have availed to us. Forgive us where we have erred and align us with your perfect will. We pray in your holy name, Amen!!  

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