How can we do God’s will in these days?
To do God’s will today, is really no more difficult than it was to do His will in earlier days. The temptations to sin may be different because of new and improved technology, because of the decaying morality in the world today that is permissive and condoning of the worst sins, and even because of the acceptance of sin in the professing church today. However, the One who is able to guide us, comfort us, strengthen us, and keep us has not changed. We read in Philippians 2:13, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” The Lord works in the hearts of believers. He gives us the desire to do His will and He gives us the ability to do His will.
The Apostle Paul realized his dependence on the Lord to be able to do His will. He wrote in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” The Lord lets us know that we are helpless to do His will without His working in our lives. He said in John 15:5, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
We read the words of the Lord in John 7:17, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” If one truly desires to do the will of God, He will accept the teachings of the Word of God. His beliefs will be based on what the Word teaches, not what man teaches, nor will his beliefs be based on ‘instinct’. This is where many have gone astray. We are often guilty of accepting the teachings that best reflect our own opinions. Proverbs 14:12 cautions us, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
We can’t DO the will of God if we don’t KNOW the will of God. It is so important that we all become faithful students of the Word of God. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” Instruction from the Bible furnishes us with the knowledge to be able to know and do God’s will.
Just one more point on this subject…To be a true follower of the Lord, doing His will instead of our own, we need to open ourselves to the Lord to mine the depths of our hearts and reveal to us those things in our lives that are not pleasing to Him. Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” It’s important that we ask the Lord to search our hearts for any wicked way that may be in us, expose that to us, and lead us in the ‘way everlasting’. (232.8)