God’s Will, part II
F inding God’s Will is not easy. But, then again, it is not supposed to be easy. Is there such a thing as God’s perfect will and God’s permissible Will?
Search the Bible and one may not discover God’s Will or worse, become confused.
Pray for direction and it may seem that one direction is better than another but as it turns out it was not the right direction. Ask others what to do and you will get as many different opinions as you ask people. What to do?
Peace that surpasses our understanding seems to be rare. The apostle Paul wrote, “ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). I want that peace!
Where does this peace come from? We read, “ But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” (James 3:17-18).
This peace comes from God.
The world is looking for peace, love, and acceptance.
Unfortunately, there is neither peace nor much love in our world and certainly it is difficult to accept people and things with which we are not familiar.
However, it is the common questions that are the most difficult to decipher. Is this the right one to marry? Do I go to college? Should I get this car or that car? Why is everyone doing better than me? Why has life turned out this way? Why did this happen to me? Is God punishing me? Everyday questions but oh so very difficult to answer.
So, we go search for answers. We seek out someone to guide us, help us understand ourselves, our circumstance, our role(s).
Some look in a bottle. Others look for their answers in a job, relationships, drugs, power, fame, money, some even go so far to believe their answers are to be found in freedom without responsibility – (this by the way, is the cruelest lie we believe).
We look in every person, place, and thing except to the One who has the answer – Jesus Christ. As I read the Bible, I see dozens upon dozens of individuals who, like me and like you failed to find their answers.
But God did not give up on them and God will not give up on us.
In the Old Testament we read about these people.
The first humans – Adam and Eve lived in the world that was perfect, no sin, no disease, no death, no sickness, nothing but glorious, beautiful, and peaceful living. But … well you know what happened and since that fateful day, we have been searching for our answers.
One of my favorite people in the Bible is Gideon. His discovery of God’s Will for his life is clouded by social and familial expectations and his own low opinion of himself. I think we can learn from Gideon’s story as detailed in the book of Judges.
Next week – finding your life in God’s Will.
Clayton P. Adams, West Memphis, Arkansas, email: claytonp adamslll@gmail.com.
Clayton Adams
Time in the Word
