Who’s Will Are We Following
In the world today, we have many choices to make on a daily basis. Like where should I work, what kind of car should I drive, what church should I attend, or who should I marry? So, how do we know if the choices we make are the right ones or the ones God wants for us? Often times, it seems quite maddening.
Let's look at the tenth commandment, granted, we are free from the law of sin and death, but there's still a l we must live by, it's the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. Please understand it's the same law, the difference is, through salvation we have grace and are allowed to mess up and not be sentenced to death. Also, know that grace doesn't give us the right to sin, but if we should sin while seeking intimacy with God, then we're forgiven.
The tenth commandment says, don't covet anything that is our neighbors. This means we aren't to desire or lust after anything that belongs to someone else. It goes farther than that. Jesus said if you wish to come after me, then deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me. We are to lay down our will for God's, die to self moment by moment, and do as Jesus did, follow the will of God.
With this little bit of knowledge, the tenth commandment has a stronger meaning. Now it says, do not follow your own desires. Jesus said, Father, if you're willing remove this cup from me, nevertheless, not mine, but your will be done.
So, who's will are we following? God wants our obedience and our worship. In his word it's says more than once, to follow his will and not our own. Jesus, who is our example, layed down his will, to follow his Father's will. To follow our will, the flesh leads to death, but to follow the Holy Spirit leads to eternal life.
How are we supposed to know God's will?
Jesus said, if we abide in him and his word abides in us, then we can ask what we will and it'll be done. We need to spend time in his word and with him in prayer. We can't just read his word and take it at face value, we must ask for understanding and meditate on his word. To meditate on his word, means to read a verse over and over, then forget about it, and come back later and read it some more.
A pastor of mine once explained meditation as cows chewing their cud. When cows eat, they chew and swallow, then regurgitate and chew some more then swallow again. They have four stomachs, so they do this for each stomach. You've heard of cows chewing their cud, this is why.
When we pray we aren't supposed to do all of the talking, we need to learn to listen. In order to hear God, we must be silent, that means don't talk and don't think. God doesn't speak to us in an adible voice and he doesn't speak to us in our own thinking voice, though he can, he usually doesn't. He speaks to us in revelations, it's spontaneous thought, thought that we have no control over. To be silent before God will be difficult at first, but don't be discouraged, keep at it. As we patiently sit before him in silence, we'll begin recognizing his voice, then he'll tell us what to pray for, where to attend church, or what car to buy, where to work, and who to marry.
"If we won't follow, God can't lead."
Simple Obedience
We are always tempted by the enemy, God turns these temptations into tests. As hard and difficult as they sometimes are, we must always put God first. We say, to God be the glory, this should be our way of life, not just some cute little thing we say. God's glory is EVERYTHING and is what we should be seeking, ALWAYS. We are the hands and feet of the Lord, everything He does own earth, He does in and through us. There are many different parts of the body, yet only one body. Each part of the body compliments the other and when operating in unity, works like a well oiled machine, actually, like a body. When one part of the body hurts, the rest feel it, when one part of the body makes a mistake, the rest suffers. Our goal should be, to do what He says. If something drastic happens, though the rest of the body feels it and suffers from it, they must keep doing there part or else the body will stop. For example: If someone breaks a finger, the hand will feel it and be tender, the other fingers will feel it and be cautious, but they must keep doing their part.
We are children of God, when one of us falls or suffers an attack, the rest will feel the pain and suffer loss, but we must keep going. Many will pray and some will intercede, because it's their calling, it's their job. The other parts of the body can't take a day off, because one got hurt. This is simple obedience, to do what God says. This is an elementary doctrine, to obey God.
This is what I want, simple obedience. I want to do what God says, always. I don't care about some great calling or gift. I want God to use me how He will, when He will. I want to be someone God can count on. When He tells me to do something, be it great or small, I want to be one who will do it. I want to obey God. I believe I have some obedience, though, I'm far from where I want to be and where, I believe, He wants me to be.. I'm trusting God to bring to the place He wants me and it'll be by His power, not mine.
I pray God will bring us all to the place, where our desires are simple and selfless, they are to obey God and everything He says. Amen.
God bless
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