Faith & Reason Nexus

Ephesians 5:17: “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”

The Lord has a specific will for His people, and it is crucial for us to seek, understand, and follow it. Here are six important thoughts concerning God’s will:

1. We Should Be Concerned About What the Lord’s Will Is
   • Deuteronomy 29:29: “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.”
   • Acts 9:6: “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
   • We should actively seek to understand God’s will for our lives. It is not a passive endeavor, but a pursuit of knowing and living in alignment with His desires.
2. His Will Has Been Revealed
   • 1 Corinthians 2:9-13: “However, as it is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived’—the things God has prepared for those who love him—these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.”
   • John 7:17: “Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.”
   • Matthew 7:21: “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.”
   • God’s will is not hidden in mystery, but revealed to those who seek it through His Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
3. His Will Does Not Change
   • Galatians 1:6-9: “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all.”
   • Revelation 22:18-19: “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll.”
   • The Lord’s will is unchanging and consistent. We must remain faithful to it, as it will not bend or adapt to cultural or personal preferences.
4. His Will Can Be Understood
   • Ephesians 3:3-5: “That is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ.”
   • 2 Peter 3:16: “He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.”
   • God has revealed His will in a way that can be understood by those who earnestly seek Him through Scripture and the work of the Holy Spirit.
5. We Need Reminding of His Will
   • 2 Peter 3:1-2: “Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.”
   • 2 Peter 1:12: “So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have.”
   • We are often forgetful, and the Word of God serves as a constant reminder to align our lives with His will.
6. Not Our Will, But the Lord’s Will Be Done
   • Our ultimate prayer should echo that of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane: “Not my will, but Yours be done.”
     As we understand and follow God’s will, we must surrender our own desires to His perfect and unchanging plan.

Conclusion:
Understanding the Lord’s will is not a matter of chance; it requires seeking Him through His Word, prayer, and a commitment to walk in obedience. As we grow in our knowledge of His will, we can confidently live lives that honor Him, knowing that His will is always good, perfect, and unchanging.