Knowing God’s Will

Those who see the Son and believe in him have eternal life….This is what my Father wants. John 6:40

 

We learn God’s will by spending time in his presence. The key to knowing God’s heart is having a relationship with him. A personal relationship. God will speak to you differently than he will speak to others. Just because God spoke to Moses through a burning bush, that doesn’t mean we should all sit next to a bush waiting for God to speak. God used a fish to convict Jonah. Does that mean we should have worship services at Sea World? No. God reveals his heart personally to each person.

For that reason, your walk with God is essential. His heart is not seen in an occasional chat or weekly visit. We learn his will as we take up residence in his house every single day….

Walk with him long enough and you come to know his heart.

A Father’s Pride

God is being patient with you. He does not want anyone to be lost, but he wants all people to change their hearts and lives. 2 Peter 3:9

To those who embrace Christ as Savior, he promised a new birth

 

Does that mean the old nature will never rear its ugly head? Does that mean you will instantly be able to resist any temptation

 

To answer that question, compare your new birth in Christ to a newborn baby. Can a newborn walk? Can he feed himself? Can he sings or read or speak? No, not yet. But someday he will

It takes times time to grow. But is the parent in the delivery room ashamed of the baby? Is the mom embarrassed that the in fact can’t spell…that the baby can’t walk…that the newborn can’t give a speech

 

Of course not. The parents aren’t ashamed; they are proud. They know that growth will come with time. So does God

Closer than You Think

Jesus Spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” Matthew 14:27

When the disciples saw Jesus in the middle of their stormy night, they called him a ghost. A phantom….To them, the glow was anything but God

When we see gentle light on the horizon, we often have the same reaction. We dismiss occasional kindness as apparition, accidents, or anomalies. Anything but God

And because we look for the bonfire, we miss the candle. Because we listen for the shout, we miss the whisper

But it is in burnished candles that God comes, and through whispered promises he speaks: “When you doubt, look around; I am close than you think

Who is my Brother

Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Jesus answered, “…seventy-seven times.” Matthews 18:21-22

Seems to me God gives a lot more grace than we’d ever imagine.

We could do the same.

I’m not for watering down the truth or compromising the gospel. But if a fellow with a pure heart calls God Father, can’t I call that same man Brother? If God doesn’t make doctrinal perfection a requirement for family membership, should I?

 

And if we never agree, can’t we agree to disagree? If God can tolerate my mistakes, can’t I tolerate the mistakes of others?... if God allows me with my foibles and failures to call him Father, shouldn’t I extend the same grace to others?

Who’s in Charge

Give all your worried to him, because he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7

Worry…makes you forget who’s in charge. And when the focus is on yourself… - you worry. You become anxious about many things. You worry that:

Your co-workers won’t appreciate you.

Your leaders will overwork you.

Your superintendent won’t understand you.

Your congregation won’t support you.

With time, your agenda becomes more important than God’s. You’re more concerned with presenting self than pleasing him. And you may even find yourself doubting God’s judgment….

God has gifted you with talents. He has done the same to your neighbor. If you concern yourself with your neighbor’s talents, you will neglect yours. But if you concern yourself with yours, you could inspire both.

Voice of Grace

I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise. Like 23:43

Tell me, what has the thief on the cross done to warrant help? He has wasted his life. Who is he to beg for forgiveness? He publicly scoffed at Jesus. What right does he have to pray…, “Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom”?

Do you really want to know? The same right you have to pray….

You see, that is you and me on the cross; naked, desolate, hopeless, and estranged. That is us. That is us asking….

We don’t boast. We don’t produce our life. Any sacrifice appears silly when placed before God on a cross….

We, like the thief, have no more prayer. And we, like the thief, pray.

And we, like the thief, hear the voice of grace.

The Standard

We are made holy through the sacrifice Christ made in his body once and for all time. (Hebrews 10:10)

Only the holy will see God. Holiness is a prerequisite to heaven. Perfection is a requirement for eternity. We wish it weren’t so. We act like it isn’t so. We act like those who are “decent” will see God. We suggest that those who try hard will see God. We act as if we’re good if we never do anything too bad. And that goodness is enough to qualify us for heaven.

Sounds right to us, but it doesn’t sound right to God. And he sets the standard. And the standard high. “You must be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matt. 5:48).

You see, in God’s plan, God is the standard for perfection. We don’t compare ourselves to others; they are just as fouled up as we are. The goal is to be like him; anything less is inadequate.