Note: I will be out of town for the next couple of weeks. Have a wonderful fortnight and we'll get back together then.
The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Romans 12:2,
Additionally, how many times have you prayed in a group where someone is sincerely seeking the Lord's will in a matter or, you alone before the Lord, seek his will on something? And, how often, there appears to be less than pristine clarity when the time comes to plunge ahead on whatever the issue was? Did we find God's will? If so, why the nagging thought of uncertainty on it? Maybe you haven't had the experience, but I know I have - on more than one occasion.
Why so much uncertainty in seeking the Lord's will on a matter? Why the confusion, why the many opinions on God's will in a matter? Paul provides us very direct counsel on it here in this Romans passage. If we turn from the ways of the world, "the pattern of this world" for something else: being transformed by the renewing of our minds by the Holy Spirit, we will be able to "test and approve" God's good, pleasing and perfect will. Not until we put the ways of this world behind us to seek him do we begin to understand and know our God. Only by knowing our God do we understand his desires.
If we maintain our distance, if we fail to draw near him, if we snub what we know he desires for us in other areas, to think we will receive a special message from him on something that will give us advantage, we are most likely fooling ourselves. I am reminded of James 4:8, "Come near to God and he will come near to you." I am persuaded God wants us to know his desires and I am persuaded that is obtainable for us… but not from a distance. How can we know God's will on anything if we know so little of him? It seems to me the more I know of him by drawing close to him, leaving this world's ways behind me, the more I will know of his will.
Just a thought. What do you think?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Have you ever listened to someone tell you of a decision they have made that sounded goofy, off-the-wall, foolish, lacking "common sense" and then end their telling of it with "It is God's will for me." You are left with a feeling that they, too, know it sounds reckless or wacky and need to validate it, or avoid being challenged on it, by playing what they feel is a trump card - its God's will! Who can argue with that? Meanwhile you can think of passages of Scripture, principles and truths within its pages this someone is going to run against, all in the name of "God's will." Over the years there have been countless times I've witnessed that very thing.
Have you ever listened to someone tell you of a decision they have made that sounded goofy, off-the-wall, foolish, lacking "common sense" and then end their telling of it with "It is God's will for me." You are left with a feeling that they, too, know it sounds reckless or wacky and need to validate it, or avoid being challenged on it, by playing what they feel is a trump card - its God's will! Who can argue with that? Meanwhile you can think of passages of Scripture, principles and truths within its pages this someone is going to run against, all in the name of "God's will." Over the years there have been countless times I've witnessed that very thing.
Additionally, how many times have you prayed in a group where someone is sincerely seeking the Lord's will in a matter or, you alone before the Lord, seek his will on something? And, how often, there appears to be less than pristine clarity when the time comes to plunge ahead on whatever the issue was? Did we find God's will? If so, why the nagging thought of uncertainty on it? Maybe you haven't had the experience, but I know I have - on more than one occasion.
Why so much uncertainty in seeking the Lord's will on a matter? Why the confusion, why the many opinions on God's will in a matter? Paul provides us very direct counsel on it here in this Romans passage. If we turn from the ways of the world, "the pattern of this world" for something else: being transformed by the renewing of our minds by the Holy Spirit, we will be able to "test and approve" God's good, pleasing and perfect will. Not until we put the ways of this world behind us to seek him do we begin to understand and know our God. Only by knowing our God do we understand his desires.
If we maintain our distance, if we fail to draw near him, if we snub what we know he desires for us in other areas, to think we will receive a special message from him on something that will give us advantage, we are most likely fooling ourselves. I am reminded of James 4:8, "Come near to God and he will come near to you." I am persuaded God wants us to know his desires and I am persuaded that is obtainable for us… but not from a distance. How can we know God's will on anything if we know so little of him? It seems to me the more I know of him by drawing close to him, leaving this world's ways behind me, the more I will know of his will.
Just a thought. What do you think?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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