1 John 5:14-15 -- Finding God's Will

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

                                                                     1 John 5:14-15

Here, the disciple Jesus loved makes an abrupt shift and a great promise.  The shift is to the subject of prayer, and the promise is that anything we ask for we will be given if we ask according to God's will.

The question we must grapple with, of course, is how do we know what is in God's will.  Indeed, it is a question of eternal significance.  Jesus warned us:   “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." Matthew 7:21.

It is funny, but at least in the modern American Christian world it seems that many people spend far too much time searching for God's will rather than doing God's will.  We seek "God's will" in decisions big and small.  We may even get frustrated that we receive no clear answer, and are left alone to decipher and decide questions like "who should I marry?" or "what job should I take?" or "how do I escape my financial dilemma?"

Personally, I don't think God intends discovering his will for our lives to be some sort of cosmic Easter egg hunt.  And, I think we have it quite backwards.  We do not need to discover God's will in order to make good life decisions -- we need to live in God's will in order to make good life decisions.

In reality, finding God's will begins and ends with our relationship with Jesus.  When we put our faith in Jesus God's will becomes more and more apparent to us.

Jesus said "[a]nyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own."  Isn't that interesting?  When we submit to God, then Jesus reveals himself to us.  As Augustine put it:  "Do not seek to understand in order to believe, but believe that you may understand."

As we offer our very lives in worship to God, as we renew our minds through his Word, we come to know God's will.  The guessing game comes to an end.  This is the very point of this familiar verse: Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

                                                                                                            Romans 12:1-2.

So, what then is God's will for your life?  Let's start with this:  to be conformed to the image of Christ.

And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.  And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

                                                                                                              Romans 8:27-30.

Or stated differently, "[i]t is God’s will that you should be sanctified."  1 Thessalonians 4:3.  I hope you see the magnitude of this.  This is not just a call by Jesus to be conformed to his image, but a promise that we will be.  And not only that, but he promises that if we continue to follow him we will share in his glory!!

Indeed, when we surrender to the will of God Jesus not only reveals himself to us, but he brings us into his family.  As Jesus said, "[w]hoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” Mark 3:35.

As a final note, I would point out that we are to "[r]ejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.  Personally, I find this text to be extremely comforting.  God does not call us to do things that are not possible through His Spirit.  Nor does he make promises that he does not keep.

Over the last two and a half years "joy" has been an elusive thing in my life.  The grief we have experienced has been beyond description -- and continues to be.  But I also believe that, while the hole will never be fully mended, through the spirit of the living God we will find joy again.  And, even now we pray continually and give thanks daily -- in all circumstances.

What a great God we serve!!!!