Friday, June 28, 2013

God's Will

A great reminder to me came out of our College Bible Study time last night (oh, to be in college again and stay up past midnight regularly without consequence!). We are looking at Kevin DeYoung's book Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God's Will. We covered chapters 4 and 5 last night and looked especially at the "Don't Worry" verses in Matthew 6 and then a few in 1 Thessalonians:

1 Thess 4:3-4
It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable.
 
1 Thess 5:16-18
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

What a comfort to know that this is God's will for my life - my sanctification, self-control, rejoicing, prayer and thanksgiving. Not some obscure, hidden path that could take me off the edge of a cliff if I don't read the signs correctly.

Here are a few other book quotes from the end of chapter 5 that say it far better than me:

"So go marry someone, provided you're equally yoked and you actually like being with each other. Go get a job, provided it's not wicked. Go live somewhere in something with somebody or nobody. but put aside the passivity and the quest for complete fulfillment and the perfectionism and the preoccupation with the future, and for God's sake start making decisions in your life. Don't wait for the liver-shiver. if you are seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, you will be in God's will, so just go out and do something.

...Die to self. Live for Christ. And then do what you want, and go where you want, for God's glory.  

God's will for your life is not very complicated. Obviously living a Christlike life is hard work, and what following Jesus entails is not clear in every situation. But as an overarching principle, the will of God for your life is pretty straightforward: Be holy like Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit, for the glory of God."
 
(Robert and a few of the students in our College Bible Study. Backdrop: Memphis Trolley!)

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