January 14
Pursuing God's Will
"In all wisdom and insight [God] made known to us the mystery of
His will" (Eph. 1:8-9).
You might not have academic degrees to your credit but you have
wisdom that far surpasses the most educated unbeliever.
When God redeemed you, He not only forgave your trespasses and
removed the guilt and penalty of sin, but He also gave you spiritual
wisdom and insight--two essential elements for godly living. Together
they speak of the ability to understand God's will and apply it to
your life in practical ways.
As a believer you understand the most sublime truths of all. For
example, you know that God created the world and controls the course
of history. You know that mankind's reason for existence is to know
and glorify Him. You have goals and priorities that transcend earthly
circumstances and limitations.
Such wisdom and insight escapes unbelievers because they tend to view
the things of God with disdain (1 Cor. 2:14). But you "have the mind
of Christ" (v. 16). His Word reveals His will and His spirit gives
you the desire and ability to understand and obey it.
Today is another opportunity to cultivate that desire through
diligent prayer and Bible study. Let the psalmist's commitment be
yours: "O how I love Thy law! It is my meditation all the day. Thy
commandments make me wiser than my enemies. . . . I have more insight
than all my teachers. . . . I understand more than the aged . . . I
have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Thy
word" (Ps. 119:97-101).
Suggestions for Prayer:
Thank God for the wisdom and insight He gives you through His Word.
If you have neglected the Word, ask His forgiveness and begin once
again to refresh your spirit with its truths.
Ask for wisdom to respond biblically to every situation you face
today.
For Further Study:
Many Christians think God's will is vague or hidden from them. But
Scripture mentions several specific aspects of His will. Once you
align yourself with those specifics, the Spirit will direct you in
the other areas of your life.
List six elements of God's will from these passages: 2 Peter 3:9;
Ephesians 5:17-18; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 1 Peter 2:13-15; 1 Peter
3:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
Are you following God's will in those areas? If not, what steps can
you take today to do so?
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
1 Corinthians 2:14-16 (NKJV)
14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of
God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because
they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is
rightly judged by no one.
16 For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct
Him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
List six elements of God's will from these passages: 2 Peter 3:9;
Ephesians 5:17-18; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 1 Peter 2:13-15; 1 Peter
3:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
Here are those six passages display elements of God's will for us:
2 Peter 3:9
9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count
slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any
should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Ephesians 5:17-18
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the
Lord is.
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be
filled with the Spirit,
1 Thessalonians 4:3
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should
abstain from sexual immorality;
1 Peter 2:13-15
13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the
Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme,
14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the
punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.
15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to
silence the ignorance of foolish men;
1 Peter 3:17
17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing
good than for doing evil.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ
Jesus for you.
If you re seeking God's specific will and direction for your own
life, be careful that you are being obedient in the things which God
has already revealed in His Word. If you are disobeying in the above
areas, or in something revealed elsewhere in God's Word, you cannot
say that it is God's will for you to do such and such because you are
already outside of God's will by disobeying that which He has already
made plain. Humble yourself before God, and ask Him to reveal in you
anything that might be contrary to His revealed will in His Word. To
do that, you must be open to God's Word and the prompting of the Holy
Spirit. Confess and forsake any known sins quickly and willingly.
Make sure there is nothing blocking your knowing what God would have
you to do.
~~~
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pch...@columbus.rr.com
http://www.gty.org/Gospel/
http://www.nwbible.org/
To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg