One of the most frequently asked questions is regarding the “will of God.” Babes in Christ and spiritually immature believers are plagued by this question. “How do I know God’s will for my life?”
“Now that I’m saved, do I change jobs or divorce my unsaved spouse or move to another city? What does God want me to do?”
What does the Bible teach about the will of God?
1. It’s God’s will that we’re saved:
- Galatians 1:3-4 “Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:”
- John 1:12-13 “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
- II Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
2. Once we’re saved, God expects us to obey Him (or do His will).
- Romans 8:27 “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
- Ephesians 6:6 “Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;”
- I John 2:17 “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
How do we know God’s will?
The Bible is very clear that we are to do God’s will, but how do we know what to do? Believe it or not, it’s spelled out in the Bible.
- We’re to repent and be baptized. (Acts 2:38)
- We’re to study God’s Word and maintain close fellowship with one another; that means to be in church regularly. (Heb. 10:25, Acts 2:42, II Timothy 2:15)
- We’re to tithe. (Malachi 3:8,10)
- We’re to spread the Gospel to the world. (Matthew 28:19-20, II Peter 3:9)
- We’re to live holy and sanctified lives, separate from the world. (I Thessalonians 4:3-7, I Peter 1:16, II Timothy 2:21)
- We’re to look and act different from the world. (I Peter 2:9-10)
What is God’s will for your life?
God’s will is the same for each and everyone of His children. Now, the will of God is different than the plan of God.
God’s will involves our spiritual development – growing and maturing in the things of the Lord. That’s the same for all God’s children.
God’s plan involves our spiritual deployment – God’s call on our lives. That’s different for each of His children. It’s easy to know God’s will. Just read your Bible and do what it says. (James 1:22) But to understand God’s plan for your life, you must first be willing to do his will.
If you are out of the will of God because you see no need to honor and obey His Word, He won’t reveal to you His specific plan for your life. Why would He? He can’t even get you to obey Him in the little things. And anyone who says, “I’ll ask God what He wants me to do, and then I’ll decide if I want to do it,” doesn’t recognize that God is in charge. He doesn’t answer to us; nor does His work stand still because we’re not willing to obey.
- We understand God’s will by reading the Bible. Everything He wants us to do is in His Word. Ephesians. 5:17 says, “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”
- If we know what God’s Word says, and we don’t do it, we’re only fooling ourselves. James 1:22 says, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
- And if we know God’s will, and don’t obey, we’re in sin. James 4:17 says, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”