The Will of God

This is so very beautiful: that we were created for God’s glory and His pleasure. What an amazing thing, what a high purpose! That we should please the God of all things.

Because of this, we were made to know the will of God. His vocational will might be for you to go into full-time ministry, or to be a full-time parent and homemaker, or to start your own business. Is any one thing holier than the other? No, because the work that God has for you to do is holy because He wills it. Your work becomes an expression of the glory of God.

Look at the way His will is expressed in Creation. He created all things: the stars, the mountains, the plains, the ocean, the animals. These things are beautiful, and are physical expressions of the will of God. These things too are for His glory.

And so are you.

By surrendering our will to His, and letting His creative will work thorough us, we cannot help but glorify God.

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God . . .” (Col. 3:17)

“If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. (I Peter 4:11)

That doesn’t mean doing the will of God is always great and problem-free. Sometimes God’s will leads us down the Via Dolorosa — the way of sorrow. This is a blessing way because we mirror the sacrifice of Christ in our lives, and this is a great blessing. But it’s hard.

And sometimes doing the will of God is a good and joyful thing.

Either way, doing God’s will in your life leads to the fruits of the Spirit, of which one item is… wait for it… JOY!

Will we ever be perfect in doing God’s will? No, not here on earth. God is sovereign and can take even our mistakes and sins and turn them to His good purpose. But the closer we pattern our lives after the will of God, the better we are and the stronger our impact on the Kingdom of God.

“My meat and My drink is to do the will of God.” (John 4:34)

John Wright Follett writes, “God still sits on the throne. It is His world. He has a program. He has an infinite will that is pushing down through the centuries, and on over into the ages. How sweet and lovely when my little will, and your little will is swallowed up in that magnificent one of God!”

Let God work in your life. He can and will establish and defend a great work in you!

(I am indebted to Follet’s Christian classic Golden Grain)