03/14/2021
Have we completed God’s will for us? Perhaps we don’t understand His will for our life well enough to know when we have started working at it, have reached certain mileposts in the effort, or completed it. One thing is for certain, Jesus knew what God’s will was for Him, and He stayed the course until at last that will had been accomplished in full. How wonderful it must have felt to have done all that God had asked. So how do we come to know the will that God has for us, and to know it well enough that we can work it to completion?
“When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
John 19:30 ESV
Before we go any further today, let’s pause, and in a moment of silent reflection, ask ourselves first if we know what God’s will for us is, then if we do, let’s ask ourselves where we stand in accomplishing it, and finally we can ask Him what we need to do to bring His will for us to completion. As you contemplate this don’t become frustrated or despondent if you realize that you don’t have a clue what God would have you do. By merely thinking this through you have taken that most important first step!
“Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.”
John 4:34 ESV
In his early days Noah was a farmer, and known to drink wine, but he was also a pious man, and worshiped God... but he didn’t know what God’s will for him was until later in life. He had never built a boat that we know of... much less an ark.
Moses spent the first years of his life serving the Pharaoh, then he killed one of the Pharaoh’s men and hid out in the wilderness tending sheep. He didn’t know what God’s will for him was until God spoke to him, and even then he argued that God had picked the wrong man.
Then we have Jesus who was born the Son of God, but spent His first 30 years as a carpenter’s son before going about His heavenly Father’s business. We believe that He knew from a very early age what God’s Will for Him was, but that that isn’t stated specifically in scripture. We get indications though from events in His life.
So we might have known God’s Will for us from the earliest days of our faith as Jesus did, but we might also find that we are like Noah who believed and worshipped until God gave him instructions to build the Ark... or like Moses, who felt that he was anything but religious until God appeared and called Him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. So don’t be distraught if you are well into your life and don’t know what God’s plan for you is. Suffice it to say that you are already in the midst of it, or you wouldn’t have ever explored pursuing faith in the first place. And know that God most certainly has a plan, and will, for you. Listen to Jesus...
“I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.”
John 17:4 ESV
I came to Believe in God, and to know Jesus as my Lord, at an early age, but I had no clue in those days what He would have me do... so I came up with my own plan and continued on pursuing an earthly course. Then as a teenager I was miraculously rescued from drowning, and I went for years asking one question... “why did you save me Father?”, but the answer didn’t come, and I still didn’t know what God’s will was for me. Finally, much later in life I went through a series of hardships in my life, I fought cancer, the addiction of a loved one, and nearly had my career ruined. Each of these things brought me to my knees, and as I suffered, God brought men into my life that didn’t realize their true purpose, but led me to begin the journey that God had willed for me to take all along, and as a result... you are reading this devotional today.
So many of us are more like Samuel when it comes to God’s will. We go through a period of time when we do the things of faith, but don’t hear God’s voice directing us...
“Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.”
1 Samuel 3:1 ESV
Then we hear Him, but don’t understand who Is speaking, or why...
“Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down.”
1 Samuel 3:4-5 ESV
This might occur several times like it did for Samuel, and for me, until finally, perhaps with some help, we realize who is calling and we answer...
“And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.””
1 Samuel 3:8-10 ESV
We might be here in our walk towards the will of God, but there are two more steps that await us... first we must receive God’s Will as He speaks, and then we must go about doing it...
“And the Lord appeared again at Shiloh, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord.”
1 Samuel 3:21 ESV
“And the word of Samuel came to all Israel....”
1 Samuel 4:1 ESV
When we have been brought to faith, waited on God, heard His voice, answered His call, received His Will, snd obeyed it... then like Jesus we will be able to say “it is finished”, receive our reward, and rest.
“And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.”
John 17:5 ESV
So we paused at the first of this devotional, and asked ourselves three questions. We asked whether we knew God’s Will for us, if we thought we did then we asked where we stand in accomplishing it, and lastly, we were to ask God what we needed to do to bring it to completion. Now, after exploring God’s Will in our lives, we each need to ask these questions again, and pray appropriately that Gods answer us, and then give us the strength and wisdom to finish His work.
“Now Samuel died. And all Israel assembled and mourned for him, and they buried him in his house at Ramah. Then David rose and went down to the wilderness of Paran.”
1 Samuel 25:1 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the plan, and will you have for each of your children’s lives, and theirs faiths. Thank you for your Word that guides us as we wait to hear your voice, and receive instructions regarding what you would have us do in your service. Help us Father to be like Jesus as we obey your will, and follow it to its completion. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who prepares us for your service, and calls us into it. Praised be your name for every sign, miracle, and hardship we go through as you reach out to us, and convince us it is you who is speaking to us. Hear our prayers Lord as we call out to you for guidance and help in following your will, and never let us stray from the path you have prepared for us. Wash us clean with the blood of Jesus as you forgive us our sins, and circumcise our hearts as we do all you ask of us, out of love, and to bring you glory. Lift us up until your will has reached its completion in us, and reward us Father with eternity in your presence.
Rich Forbes