It is difficult to experience the peace of God to the fullest if we're steadily or periodically wondering whether we're in God's will. It becomes even more complicated if we're worried what the negative ramifications might be if we become convinced through external sources that we are "out of God's will."
Christ in you, that is God's will for you, and it is a place of peace and rest. He will be with you every step of the way through the earthly journey and through the many decisions being made over the years. If He impresses something unique upon your heart, you can still make choices. If you decide to go a different direction, God is flexible and has been known to be in the re-routing business ... working things together for good and never leaving you.
People can go through all kinds of stress and worry while wondering or trying to figure out what God's will is for their life. It can result in this life becoming heavy and hard instead of light and easy.
Sometimes it's just a matter of trusting God to lead and guide. This becomes easier when we can set aside the magnifying glass and begin to see the bigger picture of God's will for your life being Jesus Christ in you. Rest in that and begin to realize how much God cares for you affectionately in every area of your life. You no longer need to fear if you are "in God's will."
There are people who show compassion and do good things to help others. Some are Christians, others are not. Some do it from a loving heart, others do it to try to earn points with God or to be seen by others for recognition.
When abiding in grace, what is the motivation to give to others who may be in need of help? Is it based on duty and obligation? Trying to avoid guilt? Feeling required to do so? Fear of 'the principle' of sowing and reaping? Banking some sort of eternal rewards? Or does it stem from a heartfelt desire to freely do so, rooted in the love that we have received from God?
An inheritance is something gifted by one who dies. As children of God, this is what has been given to us through Christ. It's not something we earn. It is not something that will fade away based on what we do or don't do. If the inheritance is based on works, it is no longer based on a promise. (See the context around Galatians 3:18).
There are those who will attempt to communicate that the sacrifice of Jesus wasn't necessary and wasn't the will of God. It would seem that if this were true, it would have been plainly stated by Paul or someone else within their writings instead of people today pasting individual Bible verses together as if they were pieces to a puzzle to be arranged to fit an assumed narrative or belief.
So what did Jesus say about this? Did he predict he would be “murdered,” or did he suggest something else? He knew why He came and what was coming. The OT prophecies had plenty to say about the suffering of the Messiah, and the New Testament records substantial information about the blood of Jesus and what it meant for us as it relates to forgiveness of sins, the removal of sins, eternal redemption, and much more. Without his blood being shed, we would have no covenant.
The book of Hebrews reveals it is true that God did not desire sacrifices and burnt offerings for sin ... he took no pleasure in them which were offered according to the Mosaic law (because they couldn't fully deal with the problem of the sin issue). But the writer would go on to explain how the sacrifice of Jesus Christ would bring a permanent solution, while wiping out the religious system of law and works which contained the sacrifices of animals which could never take away sin. Jesus came to do the will of God with a holy sacrifice to end all other sacrifices, once for all.
Isn’t it interesting how God never desired burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin which were offered according to the law inside of the first (old) covenant? All of that work, toil, effort and slaughter … and God took no pleasure in any of it.
On the flip side, we discover the ultimate will of God was the sacrifice of Jesus, who came to earth to do this will of God—and it was by this will that He would completely wipe out the first covenant to establish a new and different covenant for the forgiveness, the salvation, and the sanctification of His creation.
If the Old Covenant sacrifices had been able to bring perfection and deliver people from a sin consciousness, they would have stopped being offered. But bull’s blood couldn’t take away sins and therefore, those sacrifices which were offered according to the law were never really the will of God—He took no pleasure in them.
But Jesus came to do the will of God with a sacrifice that would end all sacrifices and offerings. This resulted in the first covenant being taken away in order to establish the second covenant … which is better and more excellent.
An inheritance is not received by one’s commitment. It is not something that has been earned by working for it. It’s gifted. It’s not based upon law, but upon promise.
In order for a will (or covenant) to take effect, there has to be the death of the one who made it. Jesus died in order for us to receive an eternal inheritance, with an unbreakable seal - the Holy Spirit of promise.
Christians have often been working from a mindset that has encouraged them to continually seek the specific “will of God” in our everyday lives. It sounds religiously correct, and it will preach pretty good during Sunday sermons, but in some instances, it may lead people into a type of bondage that leads to fear and worry. There’s nothing wrong with seeking guidance from the Lord regarding specific situations in our lives. But you need not fear as to whether you are in God’s will as a believer in Christ.
Unlike those who lived under the Old Covenant, after the cross we’re told by the Apostle Paul that believers have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). With that in “mind,” it’s entirely possible that believers can begin to overthink when it comes to living our daily lives while seeking the will of God in all kinds of situations. The Spirit of God is able to communicate to our hearts in a way that surpasses our natural understanding. Live life, enjoy it, be free to make choices without fear and depend upon Him to accompany you every step of the way.
On the last program in our series with The Lord’s Prayer, we discovered “God’s will” in regards to redemption was the sacrifice of Christ, as explained in Hebrews chapter 10. The sacrifice would be done on the earth, but after the sacrifice, Christ would not enter a tabernacle that was temporary, made by human hands, which were only copies and shadows of the original. He would enter the perfect tabernacle, into heaven itself, where He would appear on our behalf with a better sacrifice that would not need to be repeated. The prayer Jesus taught His disciples before the cross was seeking this will to be done. For us who are under a New Covenant, we now recognize the will of God has been done and accomplished through Christ, on earth as it is in heaven. This poses the question: Why ask for God to perform (again) what has already been done?
The writer of Hebrews reflects upon a prophetic passage from the Psalms where we find a body was prepared for Jesus. Why? Sacrifices and burnt offerings God did not desire and He did not take any pleasure In them. The prophecy looked ahead to Christ coming to do the will of God by the sacrifice of Himself. By this offering, He took away the first covenant made with Israel, including the law, and established a second covenant. This resulted in our eternal salvation and sanctification. It was God’s will to bring an end to the need for further sacrifice.
