We often wonder and wander for God's will in our lives. We often pray and ask God, "What is Your will for my life, Lord?" You think maybe this or that is His will for me. Sometimes we are unsure of where we are called and of what we are called to do. Then, we ask Him. Then we discern. "Is it God's will for me to marry this person? Is it God's will for me to migrate? Is it His will for me to pursue this career?" And the list goes on. So many things we ask about 'His will' which, often times, are self-centered and we don't even realize that, do we?
But the Bible tells us about God's will for us. He did not give us clues to tell us, "Go figure out what My will for your life is." Rather, He has spread out His perfect and pleasing will and spoke about it loud and clear in the Bible.
What is God's will for our lives?
3 For this is the will of God, that you should be consecrated (separated and set apart for pure and holy living): that you should abstain and shrink from all sexual vice,
4 That each one of you should know how to possess (control, manage) his own body in consecration (purity, separated from things profane) and honor,
5 Not [to be used] in the passion of lust like the heathen, who are ignorant of the true God and have no knowledge of His will,~ 1 Thessalonians 4: 3-5 [AMP]~
Of course, there are things we have to ask God what His will is for us especially if we are in a point of making a life decision. Our profession, our career, our business, our life partner, our education, and whatever occupies us are all secondary. Setting aside those that come in secondary, God's main point of His will for us is to be sanctified and holy in Christ Jesus.
What is God's calling for our lives?
To be the president of the country? To be a pastor? A missionary? A lawyer? An engineer? A carpenter? A farmer? A wife? A husband?
No, that is not what we are mainly called to do. Come to think of it, the above-mentioned are what we call profession, career, or ministry. It's what we do for a living. What we do behind and beyond that is our calling:
7 For God has not called us to impurity but to consecration [to dedicate ourselves to the most thorough purity].
~ 1 Thessalonians 4: 7, [AMP] ~
Being called to be holy does not mean having a halo on the head. It means we are called to live a life that conforms us to the image of Christ. The Holy Spirit works in us, processes us, and molds us to be more and more like Christ. We are being purified and being made holy so we can become like Jesus Christ.
We are called to be holy lawyers, holy doctors, holy engineers, holy businessmen, holy truck drivers, holy fishermen, holy mothers, holy fathers, and so on. Regardless of what we do for a living, we are called to be holy and pure.
What is God's ambition for our lives?
To be millionaires? To be financial analysts? To be successful businessmen? To be top surgeons?
No. That is our ambition. And most of the time, selfish ambition. It points us to our own selves rather than to God.
I am not saying that God does not want us to excel. In fact, God wants us to excel in what we do and in every area of life. Because if we do, He is pleased and glorified provided that we are careful to give back the glory to Him. So what is His ambition for us?
11 To make it your ambition and definitely endeavor to live quietly and peacefully, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we charged you,
12 So that you may bear yourselves becomingly and be correct and honorable and command the respect of the outside world, being dependent on nobody [self-supporting] and having need of nothing.~ 1 Thessalonians 4: 11-12 [AMP] ~
God wants us to be effective in sharing our faith. And He wants us to be responsible in all areas of life. Whatever we do, God wants us to do it faithfully, not lazily, living a quiet life so that we may also win the respect of the outsiders (nonbelievers, pre-believers) who are watching our lives. After all, our lives are our testimony to the world.
God's will leads us to the One.
His calling for our lives points us to the One.
His ambition for us directs us to the One.
The whole picture of God's will, God's calling and His ambition for us is this: to live a life that reflects the image of Christ in us, and to become like His Son, Jesus, holy, pure, and blameless.
His calling for our lives points us to the One.
His ambition for us directs us to the One.
The whole picture of God's will, God's calling and His ambition for us is this: to live a life that reflects the image of Christ in us, and to become like His Son, Jesus, holy, pure, and blameless.
[Journal entry: July 21, 2014]
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