| EVERYONE CAN KNOW GOD'S WILL! |
Knowing God's will is not a mystery. We were discussing God's will in a Christian group recently. I spoke of the strength we receive for living when we offer our bodies (all that we are) to God daily for His service. Then I said, "God's will is His Word."
I was asked to substantiate that! Look at Romans 12:1-2. Here is how it reads in the New King James Version:
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and PERFECT WILL OF GOD."
Now see the New Living Testament, as this version will say it even better:
"And so dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice-the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him. Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."
God gave His life for the church. He made her (the church) holy and clean by the cleansing of His Word. God's Word and its cleansing power washes us clean when we will spend time in it as His power and His presence is in the Word. (See Ephesians 5:26).
We are honed, pruned, shaped and cleansed by God's Word. The New Living Translation tells us, "You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you." (John 15:3). And then The Message continues with, "Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can't bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can't bear fruit unless you are joined with me."
When we live in Christ just as He makes His home in us, we join ourselves daily to the Vine by spending time in His Words, we chew upon it (meditation) and talk to God (prayer). Once this habit is established, we will KNOW we are in His will!
I was asked to substantiate that! Look at Romans 12:1-2. Here is how it reads in the New King James Version:
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and PERFECT WILL OF GOD."
Now see the New Living Testament, as this version will say it even better:
"And so dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice-the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him. Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."
God gave His life for the church. He made her (the church) holy and clean by the cleansing of His Word. God's Word and its cleansing power washes us clean when we will spend time in it as His power and His presence is in the Word. (See Ephesians 5:26).
We are honed, pruned, shaped and cleansed by God's Word. The New Living Translation tells us, "You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you." (John 15:3). And then The Message continues with, "Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can't bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can't bear fruit unless you are joined with me."
When we live in Christ just as He makes His home in us, we join ourselves daily to the Vine by spending time in His Words, we chew upon it (meditation) and talk to God (prayer). Once this habit is established, we will KNOW we are in His will!
Mary Jane Fischer is an interdenominational speaker and retired United Methodist pastor. She is author of "Praying Through First John" WinePress and "Praying With Peter" Gazelle Press. Her email: mfischer18@cox.net