God's Will: One Thing Remains
I want us to take some time together to consider God's Will. We'll get into the biblical information and insights into finding, knowing and following God's will in the coming weeks.
I had a thought this week (lol)!
In all the buzzing around going on, the busyness of life, what do people want?
I thought of significance, that people want to know that they matter. That their life has produced something that will last after they have passed on.
For some it might be a business, a building, a piece of art or music. Maybe a memorial bench at the park, or some monument like Hearst Castle. For others, it might be a solid family, a reputation.
I came across this verse and it got me thinking:
1 John 2:17 LEB
And the world is passing away, and its desire, but the one who does the will of God remains forever.
Some translations use the words 'lives' or 'abides' in place of remains. But looking at the context, the passage is discussing the temporary nature of this world. We are told here not to love the world and all its trappings because it's all temporary.
I saw the word 'remain' in a different light.
So, not only are we promised that we will live forever, but we will remain! To me, the word remain speaks of permanence, of lasting significance.
What changes our lives from merely existing, to one that is meaningful and significant?
Doing the Will of God!
Let's examine the passage together:
1 John 2:15-17 (Amp)
Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him.
Kind of harsh! What do you think John meant here? (God so loved the world...)
John goes on toexplain the statement:
For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh craving for sensual gratification and the lust of the eyes greedy longings of the mind and the pride of life assurance in one’s own resources or in the stability of earthly things—these do not come from the Father but are from the world itself.
Some clarity as we look at the words- lust, craving, sensual gratification, greed, pride.
How do you know if you are 'loving the world'?
And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings the passionate desires, the lust of it;
To simplify, if you can't take it to heaven, or send it ahead to store it there, it can't occupy God's place in your heart!
but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides remains forever.
If we want a life of Eternal significance, we need to know and carry out God's will in our lives!
To get us started I thought I'd ask a simple question-
What do you think of when you hear the phrase 'Doing God's will'? (Discuss)
I like how Jesus said it:
John 6:38-40 The Voice
... I have come down from heaven not to pursue My own agenda but to do what He desires. I am here on behalf of the Father who sent Me.
He sent Me to care for all He has given Me so that nothing and no one will perish. In the end, on the last day, He wants everything to be resurrected into new life.
So if you want to know the will of the Father, know this: everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will live eternally; and on the last day, I am the One who will resurrect him.
I take it that Jesus wants us to help people 'see the Son'. We do that best by reflecting Him!
Tonight I'd like to leave us with this verse:
Rom 12:2
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
Knowing God's will requires a transformed mind! Have you experienced this transformation?
In the coming weeks I'd like us to dig deeper into Will of God and its application to our lives.
Be blessed!
