What is God's Will?

What does it mean to my life to follow the will of God? How do I find it for my life? Is there only one right way? I think the answers to these questions start with an understanding of what God says about His will. Furthermore, we can look at examples of Christians in the bible and their interactions with God as evidence of how to walk in God’s will.

First I want to consider John 6:38-40. “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” Furthermore, 1 Timothy 2:4 claims God “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” And 2 Peter 3:9 states “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” God waits patiently that we may be saved!

So basically, what I take from these passages is that (at least part of) God’s will is that we should believe in Christ so that we all may have eternal life. And as a side note here, I think it is important to define the phrase ‘believe in Christ’. I feel that this is such a misunderstood concept. People claiming to be Christians can almost inevitably quote John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” This is obviously a true statement, but claiming that statement does not make one a believer in Christ. What does make one a believer in Christ? A faith in Christ that He is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).You can’t just keep Jesus at a distance and claim Him when you’re needy- He needs to be your first love, your life, your all. We are to use Jesus as our foundation. 1 Corinthians 3:9-11 states, “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Obviously more could be said here on the topic of belief, but I think that is sufficient for this topic of God’s will.

So back to the topic at hand; God's will is to bring in His flock. We should know this. Jesus commands the disciples in Matthew 28:18-20 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” And what I find really cool about God’s desire to reach the whole world with the gospel message is this. He has promised that all nations will receive opportunity to hear the truth. Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Therefore, an obvious takeaway from these passages is that God’s will is for us to witness to others and teach His gospel to all whom we meet. We should take Paul’s attitude found in Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” So, spreading the gospel is God’s will, and He has commanded us to be a part of that, so anytime we are given opportunities to talk to others about Christ this is obviously part of God’s will for us, however, God’s will for us doesn’t end there.

It is also God’s will for us to be righteous. So not only does He want us to believe in His grace and mercy given to us through the sacrifice of His son Jesus Christ. God also wants us to be virtuous and moral examples for the world. 1 John 3:10 states, “By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.” We can be a testimony to Christ through our moral character. Therefore, by becoming righteous, we not only please God with our actions, but we also are working to fulfill the will of God in bringing others to Christ. And while we’re at it, let’s consider 1 Peter 2:15 “For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.” Sometimes setting the good example is all it takes, and sometimes actions are more powerful than words.

Furthermore, it is to our reward and advantage to develop our righteousness through pursuit of God. Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” We will lose the whole world, but gain His good pleasure and can have abundant satisfaction if our pursuit is righteousness. Luke 12:32 states, “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” God wants to give us every good thing, and if we will bear His cross he will surely give us a reward.

We cannot save ourselves, through righteousness, but righteousness is a natural progression of a continued relationship with Christ and our humble submission to Him. As we grow in Christ we will become continually more virtuous as He changes us more and more into His character. For to become righteous is to become more like God, as God is the source of righteousness.

Another call from God for the life of the believer is to become sanctified. Though complete sanctification is impossible here on earth, God continually calls us to become holy. Leviticus 11:44a “I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.” He wants us to be in constant pursuit of His will and His holy nature rather than distracted by the world. Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”  Especially important in God’s call for sanctification is sexual purity. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God.” God has designed humans with an innate desire for sex; however, He has put limits on this desire, requiring that it occur only within a heterosexual marriage. Mark 10: 6-8 “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh.”  Therefore, if we want to become sanctified, as is God’s will, we must pick up His cross daily and follow Him, that our lustful desires would not cause us to stumble. Because that sexual drive is so strong in most people, that even within a marriage it can be hard to remain pure of heart. I believe this is (part of) why God calls believers not to deny their spouse. 1 Corinthians 7:5 “Do not deny yourselves to each other, unless you first agree to do so for a while in order to spend your time in prayer; but then resume normal marital relations. In this way you will be kept from giving in to Satan's temptation because of your lack of self-control.” Sexual purity can be obtained inside a marriage, or as a single person, but there will always be temptation. Therefore, our sanctification can only occur if our focus is on pleasing Christ. Marriage doesn’t solve the heart issue of lust, only Christ can.

So, I think it’s been established that God’s will is that we would come to a saving knowledge of Christ, bring the salvation message to others, and grow in righteousness and sanctification. This is not all inclusive of God’s will for us, but it is a good start, and if this is what we are pursuing with our lives I think we can safely say we are following the will of God. Within a Christian’s life God has left opportunity for us to pursue our passions, with no one single path that is correct. Micah 6:8 “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Finding peace with decisions as you are consistently walking with God through reading of the bible and daily prayer is likely a good sign that you are walking in His will, but this only works if we are in constant relationship with Him. So we can take some freedom in this knowledge, that Christ has freed us from the law. Romans 6:14 "For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace." But remember Paul’s question, “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” (Romans 6:1-2). Therefore, though we have freedom in Christ, pursuit of sin is still to be avoided.

Additionally, we need to be mindful that, when God clearly gives us direction, we are astute to this leading. As example, God called Jonah to preach to the Ninevites, but Jonah refused. Despite his disobedience, God’s will was not to be avoided. Luckily for him, God still chose to use him, though he quite easily could have found another.

It’s amazing what can happen when we are attentive to God’s calling. Consider Esther, who was placed in the palace of king Ahasuerus for such a time as God needed to save His chosen people Israel from destruction. Even though she had every right to be afraid, her uncle Mordecai assures her that she should not feel safe just because she is the queen. Esther 4:13-14 “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther could easily have chosen to disobey God, and God would have saved Israel without her, but because she willingly obeyed she was rewarded.

God’s will is inevitable and will pass with certainty. Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” We may not always see His goals, but they are always meant for His glory and our good. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” God can and will shove squares into round holes, but it’s much easier on us if we willingly conform our will to His. So let this be our motto: Matthew 6:10 “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” And remember, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Because, though the way may at times seem bleak and the right may seem too hard, if you “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (And) In all thy ways acknowledge him, he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).