God’s Will
Getting it right can be so easy – Dec. 4th, 2018
I’ve said it. You probably have said it as well. It very likely is the most over thought, and least practice in Christianity, knowing and being obedient to God’s will in our lives.
Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12 (CSB)
If Jesus is the ‘light of the world’ and we are following him then why is it that we can’t see the path before us?
Before we get too far into this, I want to make it clear that there are distinct applications of this topic and an absolute core to what scripture teaches us. And just so you know that I’m not taking this out of context let me fill in some of the details of what Paul was telling the church at Corinth.
There was a good deal of exercising spiritual gifts going on. I would imagine that there were the genuine real deals who were actually working these gifts within the control of the Holy Spirit, but there were also those that wished to appear to be doing so. These individuals would study what was going on and then attempt to mimic the gifts.
We know this because of what Paul puts forward in this text.
Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should evaluate. But if something has been revealed to another person sitting there, the first prophet should be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged. And the prophets’ spirits are subject to the prophets, since God is not a God of disorder but of peace.
1 Corinthians 14:29-33 (CSB)
The key here is in the last sentence of his direction to the church at Corinth, “since God is not a God of disorder but of peace.”
There is order in God’s planning for us. If we are really in the light, following the light, then we can see our way and there is no confusion to the matter.
So, the crux of today’s devotional is to understand that there is a core purpose for each and every life of everyone that has vested faith and trust in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins. This core competency, if you will, is supreme for every believer that truly wishes to follow the Master and be His Disciple.
The Core Competency
Jesus gave us some very specific and very clear directives for us to be his Disciples. The first thing he did was tell us that being his disciple is what he commands of us beyond all other things.
And whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
Matthew 10:38 (CSB)
No stammering, no equivocation whatsoever, Jesus expects his own to follow him. There have been numerous sermons talking about the cross that we are to take up. Luke repeats this directive by Christ as well and puts it a bit more in clear perspective for us.
Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:27 (CSB)
Here Luke quotes Jesus as saying we can’t be his disciple if we are not willing to bear our own cross. I have no doubt whatsoever that that cross we are to carry is to engage in being a disciple of Jesus Christ. The first thing when rising, is to pick up that cross, and follow our Lord and Master. Our ‘own cross’ is our obedience to the will of Christ in our lives. Our cross is that which he places before us. Our responsibility is to in trust in his Grace and power in his strength take that cross and move it forward with us as we follow, becoming his Disciple.
Our own cross is the action phrase to becoming His disciple.
Other parts of this core competency include obedience.
“If you love me, you will keep my commands.”
John 14:15 (CSB)
His Word is transformative in our lives. If it isn’t then we are not being obedient to them. It’s a bit harsh but it is oh so true that if we really love Jesus, we will be obedient to him. The first step in obedience is to determine that we will be his disciple, learn from him, do what he does, say what he said, be what he was when he was with us here in the flesh, and pattern our every behavior in keeping with Him.
In short live transformative lives!
Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 (CSB)
This is a binary action on our part, we are either conforming to this world or we are transforming in to the image of Jesus through the very renewal of our minds and hearts. This is where the discernment to understand the “good, pleasing, and perfect will of God” is in our lives!
For you that may be taking care of your family. For another it could be leading a great revival. For yet another it may be washing dishes in a restaurant. Or it could be nothing less than a reflector of the love, grace, kindness, and forgiveness that Jesus calls each and every one of us to be in this world.
That discernment may not be immediate, but the core competency of being His Disciple is. If we are focused on being like our Master, and emulating his love and forgiveness everywhere we go, letting the entire world in on the fact that Jesus has paid our debt and made a way to have a real relationship with The Creator, we are doing exactly what he calls us to do.
He can, and likely will call us to do other things as well, and that is something that he will make clear to us if we are walking along with him, bearing that cross of our ours, in the Light that is our Savior and Lord.
God has a will for our lives. Each one unique and specifically for a purpose that only God can reveal to us. He’s made it clear where we start this journey. It begins on the heels of our Savior, Jesus, with cross in tow, following Him and being His Disciple.
Blessings, kip…