FINDING GOD’S WILL FOR YOUR LIFE (2)

To have the right attitude about God’s will often a struggle for many people who seek it. Do we really want to know what His will is for our lives? I am afraid many times we do not. The subject is often approached as one man of God stated it: “The will of God is like cod-liver oil; no doubt good for you, but oh, it isn’t good.” Whenever we try to find songs to sing that speak of the will of God they are often found under headings of “Resignation,” “Submission,” “Trial,” or “Discipline.” We have come to believe that God’s will is opposite of pleasure. Should we ever surrender to the will of God we expect that we will have a miserable life! The Bible teaches just the opposite. True joy, peace, and fulfillment are found not in our selfishness but in doing the will of God.

To answer the question, How many wills does God have? It is necessary to state that God has three wills: His sovereign will, His moral will, and His permissive will. Let us look at them separately. God’s sovereign will is that will through which His ultimate purposes and eternal plans will be carried out without violating man’s free choices. For example, God would not allow Satan to completely destroy man when the sinful world was flooded. Noah “found favour” in the Lord’s sight (Genesis 6:8). God removed for a time a prideful king to prove that He and not Nebuchadnezzar ruled in the affairs of men (Daniel 4:32). In Acts 2:23, Peter declared that the actions of the mob in crucifying Jesus was not the plan of the Jews, although they had plotted for months to do so, but was by God’s own predetermination and action, done without violating the free choice of anyone. Paul later called it God’s eternal purpose (Ephesians 3:10, 11). Paul also declared that God continues to keep the order of the universe going by His sovereign will (Colossians 1:17).

God also has a moral will. In behavioural terms this is the character of God. He declared in both the Old and New Testaments, “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44, 45; 1 Peter 1:16). God allowed man to choose whom he would imitate, his Creator or the creation. The majority chose the latter (Romans 1:18-27). God also has a permissive will. God’s expressed will is that all men be saved (1 Timothy 2:4). However, God has to let man choose which way he will follow (Acts 14:16). God does not expressly desire that people have accidents or murder and maim each other, but He must permit free will to reign.

Questions still remain, and the search for a more perfect understanding of how God works in our lives continues. The challenge God has for us is obedience to His sovereign and moral will. He then will work in our lives and within our freedom of choice trying to guide us in the very best walk we can make of life. In your freedom of choice, how are you responding to the will of God?

Word Affirmation: “But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions." - Obadiah 1:17 (Don't just say it, mean it!)

“If you know and have Jesus who is the Way, you will definitely know the will of God."

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