What Does God Want Me To Do?
What Does God Want Me To Do?
"For I have come down from Heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him Who sent Me." John 6:38
"But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus ..." Acts 20:24
INTRO
GOD'S GENERAL WILL AND CONCERNS FOR EVERYONE:
FIRST:
SECOND:
THE QUESTION OF HIS SOVEREIGNTY AND OUR RESPONSIBILITY
FULFILLING THE SECOND COMMAND IN OUR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES:
THE CARE FOR THE LOST - THE CARE FOR THOSE IN NEED -
SHOULD WE EVER WALK AWAY - THE CHURCH LIFE
CHOOSING A VOCATION
YOUR LIFE IS A CALLING
CHOOSING A DIRECTION
FOLLOWING YOUR DREAMS AND DESIRES
PURSUING HAPPINESS
INTRO
Seriously, very few will have a calling compared to the caliber of Paul's (which cannot and will not be duplicated), and Jesus has no equal. But that is not the point. God our Heavenly Father has a will and purposes for each individual. Let's look at this briefly and consider where we fit it.
Before we go any further, GOD DOES NOT WANT US TO ATTEMPT, EVEN IGNORANTLY, TO WORK FOR OUR SALVATION. JESUS ALREADY PAID FOR IT IN FULL ON THE CROSS! Whatever we do, we do in Him because we are saved, and all our activities are just the overflow of His life in us if we are moving in faith and love. "Now the end of the commandment is charity(love) out of a pure heart and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned(sincere faith)." 1 Timothy 1:5. And that is how we walk.
THE DESIRE TO DO HIS WILL IS A NATURAL DESIRE
"And Jesus said to them, 'I Am the Bread of life. He that comes to Me shall never hunger, and he that believes on Me shall never thirst.'" John 6:35
Please pardon a little of my personal testimony before I proceed. When I became a believer in Jesus and got saved I felt completely satisfied and fulfilled. I had found everything that I was looking for. With that, I also felt that there was something I should be doing with my life. This concern propelled me on a two or three-year journey that brought me to a Christian brother (I was still not going to any church), and he said, "You should be serving the Lord." THAT'S IT! That is what I wanted to do. So I dropped everything and fanatically dived into it with everything I had.
From this point, I hope to simplify and clarify the concept for anyone who feels the same. Serving the Lord is the will of God, but what that will actually look like and how it plays out will vary from person to person. Let me elaborate. When I first became a believer in Jesus there was so much excitement and zeal among all us new converts that we were all expecting to get into the "Ministry" in some way. But as time moved on life took over and many settled into the routines of daily life: work, marriage, children... Some did go on into the ministry in various ways, some even full-time (meaning that was also the means of their income). Saying this, I came to the realization that not everyone who is a believer in Jesus is called to the "ministry", but everyone is called to serve Him in whatever we do all our life.
GOD'S GENERAL WILL AND CONCERNS FOR EVERYONE:
God's general will for everyone has two directives. The first is with regard to our salvation, our relationship with Him, and our welfare, both our spiritual and our natural welfare. Jesus demonstrated all these concerns by the way He healed those in need, fed the hungry, and delivered the oppressed. "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me because He has anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the broken-hearted; to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised; to preach the acceptable year of the Lord (the year of Jubilee). Luke 4:18:19 Then finally, and predominantly, by His sacrificial death on our behalf to save us from our sins and to redeem us back to God. The sequentially second is with regards to our relationship with one another, that we love one another " in deed and truth" (1 John 3:18) as He loved us. From these two positions, He begins to work in our lives as we yield to Him.
As for His primary intent, our salvation and redemption, they have been fulfilled and made available by Jesus Christ. Nothing depends on our works nor can anything be added to them. We simply walk in them by faith. JESUS HAS ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED ALL THIS FOR US - AND MORE. Here are some of the highlights of His will for us:
A - That we may be SAVED and come to repentance and to the knowledge of the truth 1 Timothy 2:4, 2 Peter 3:9. This is for everyone and nothing is more important for every individual.
B - "....to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" 2 Peter 3:18 That we are rooted and grounded in Him in our day-to-day lives so as to keep us unmoveable and unshakable in our faith.
C - That we live holy and godly lives Titus 2:12, 1 Peter 1:15-16 That our behavior and actions in our daily lives reflect the faith in God we profess to serve and believe in.
D - That we are thankful - Ephesians 5:20
E - That everything we do, we do in His Name and for His glory -
Colossians 3:17, 1 Corinthians 10:31
F - That we live our life of faith by walking in the love of God - "
Mark 12:29-31
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
FIRST OF ALL - SECURE YOUR SALVATION!!! This is God's greatest concern for every person. He secured it by paying the ultimate price for the redemption of our souls by sending His Son (John 3:16) to pay for our sins in order to buy us back from death and hell, but the choice is ours. If you have not yet made your peace with God. If you are still in your sins. If you have not put your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior who paid for your sins on that Roman cross, then it is time to do that right now! "If you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved (from your sins and the wrath of God). Romans 10:9 Please do so now. Your eternal soul is on the line! Then go find some Christians and tell them. They will direct you on what to do next...Baptism, fellowship, Bible study... learning to live life as a Christian (disciple of Jesus).
SECOND - ESTABLISH YOUR CORE VALUES ONTO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND HIS KINGDOM - This is where you establish in your mind and heart what is to be your perception of life and how you intend to live it. This will determine the choices you will make, the directions you will take, the kind of behavior you will conduct yourself with, and your destiny, both your natural and your eternal destiny. In short, what kind of life you will live; therefore your values should be based on your faith in Jesus Christ and His teachings. "Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man which builds his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock. And everyone that hears these sayings of mine, and does them not, shall be like unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell. And great was the fall of it." Matthew 7:24:27
Consequently, what is important to God is now important to you. His interests and concerns are now yours, and His ways are now to be your pursuit. Please don't get this wrong. Your welfare and personal concerns are also His and we can trust that He will take good care of us as we allow Him to shepherd us.
THE QUESTION OF HIS SOVEREIGNTY AND OUR RESPONSIBILITY
This is something we must establish. There are some who assume that because the Lord will take care of us, we are relieved of personal responsibility. This is indeed presumptuous. "But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." 1 Timothy 5:8, "Nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we might not be a burden to any of you...For even when we were with you we gave you this order: if anyone will not work neither let him eat." 2 Thessalonians 3:8,10 Now that you are a citizen of the Kindom of God, which is "...righteousness, peace, joy in the Holy Spirit." Romans 14:17, which is living a life by the Spirit of Christ, you must find the means to support yourself in the natural world, and perhaps a family. Fear not! God your Heavenly Father will help you with that. But don't expect it to be easy. As with the spiritual, so it is with the natural ("...and through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God." Acts 14:22) Expect that working for a living to be just that - work. But work is a privilege and can be very fulfilling.
That is life, and for us who are pilgrims passing through, we are honored with the adventure.
In our struggle to "make it", we can fall into the trap of covetousness, because money is beneficial and is a protection (Ecclesiastes 7:12); therefore, "Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have, for He Himself has said, 'I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.' so that we confidently say, 'The Lord is my Helper, I will not be afraid what shall man do to me?'" Hebrews 13:5-6
This reality of struggling to survive can be all-consuming if we lose sight of the Lord and allow it to dominate us. What we need to be careful about is that in pursuing our needs and concerns we do not neglect or put aside His Kingdom and His will. Things like a daily personal prayer life, reading the Bible, and going to church will help you stay focused. If I feel that I am too busy for these, then something is wrong in my thinking and I do not have proper control of my life.
FULFILLING THE SECOND COMMAND IN OUR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES
As already stated, the second commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves is the second aspect of God's will for our life. This is one of the best ways of expressing our love for Him, which is the first and greatest commandment (Mark12:29-31). We cannot say we love God if we do not love our fellow man/neighbor. In Christ, we can see how God loved us, so now, how can we reflect that love. Ok, we are not God nor can we do all that He does, but like children, we can definitely imitate Him. As already stated, God's will for our lives is that we be saved, and that people are cared for and loved. As followers of Jesus, the care for lost souls should always have a priority place in our minds and hearts. Then, that which is more in our natural ability is the care for the welfare of those in the world around us. If people in need are a huge concern to Him, so should it be a huge concern to us. No, we cannot meet every need, nor are we expected to, but we do as the Lord directs and as the opportunity arises. Let us not be like the priest and the Levite in the story of the Good Samaritan who refused to get involved by helping the victimized man. Instead, they crossed over to the other side of the road to avoid him.
THE CARE FOR THE LOST.
Because our salvation is the primary importance to our Heavenly Father, it should be ours too. Now, not everyone is called to this type of ministry, but we can still carry people in our hearts in earnest prayer. We can support financially, as we are able, those who are involved in such ministries, and if we have the unction, we can tell the people in our lives about Jesus. It may seem like a small help in your eyes, but it is huge in the sight of our God, as is our giving and our prayers when offered in faith and love. Dear friends, this is not to be a burden, but as He leads us, it is a privilege and opportunity.
THE CARE FOR THOSE IN NEED
As we conduct ourselves in our daily lives carrying out our responsibilities, and we come across a need that we can fill, by all means, lend a helping hand as Jesus would. Perhaps the Holy Spirit puts it on your heart to do something more, or maybe to help on a regular basis, then by all means step out in faith and do it. You don't want to miss the opportunity if Jesus wants to touch people's lives through you. Jesus left a beautiful example of this in His story about the good Samaritan Luke 10:30-37. Did you notice how he was going about his daily business and came across a man in dire need? Unlike the priest or the Levite, he took the time and cared enough to get involved and help the victim. He did as much as he could, but it was obvious that in the morning his other responsibilities, whatever they were, required him to move on, which he did. Nevertheless, considering that the care of this man was still his responsibility, he took it as far as he could, then paid the innkeeper to care for him until he was better, and guaranteed payment for any further cost. Isn't that such a beautiful story!? Is that not how the Lord wants us to live our lives? Who knows what kinds of opportunities the Lord may give you to make a difference in the lives of others. These give us the opportunity to express and experience the love and joy of serving the Lord, yet all the while we are going about our daily business, whatever that may be. To be realistic, few occasions are easy and convenient. More than likely they are difficult, inconvenient, and sometimes costly, as was with this Good Samaritan. Charles Dickens made this beautiful statement, "No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of another."
SHOULD WE EVER WALK AWAY
"Like one who seizes a dog by the ears is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own." Proverbs 26:17 "For you have the poor with you always, and whensoever you will you may do them good..." Mark 14:7
Doubtless, there are times when it is not the Lord's will for us to get involved and the Holy Spirit will put a check in your heart if that is the case. It is not up to us to try to make every wrong right, especially according to our perception. So we need to be sensitive to what the Holy Spirit is saying. There are times in critical situations when we have to make a judgment call, but in every needful situation, our primary goal is to help out as best we can and leave what we can't to God and or to those who are more capable, BUT DON'T BE FOOLED AND MAKE THIS AN EXCUSE FOR WALKING AWAY.
THE CHURCH LIFE
Being involved in the Christian community is a big part of our Christian walk. Jesus gave us a commend to love one another as He Loved us, "A new commandment I give unto you. That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love love one another. By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love one to another." John 13:34-35
This commandment of God takes our lives into a whole new realm of life wherein we take on our fellow believers, whoever they may be, as family, needing special love and care, being our brothers and sisters in Christ. Going to church is a beginning, but it should not end there. We pray together, fellowship, encourage one another, and help where we can. Take this seriously. As Jesus said, this is a true mark of our conversion to Christ, "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. 1 John 3:14, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the day approaching." Hebrews 10:25
CHOOSING A VOCATION
Jesus did say, "But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33
God does promise to care for us as we put Him first. Now as believers, we must determine how we are to live before Him. Clearly, not every person whose life Jesus touched did Jesus call to follow Him in a "ministry". Your presence as a believer in any realm is an influence of His grace and a revelation of His person and glory. The man who was possessed of the Legion of devils, after Jesus delivered him wanted to follow Jesus. Instead, Jesus sent him away and told him to return home and show/declare what great things He had done for him Luke 8:26-39. The natural reaction when we realize that God has done great things in our lives is to want to follow Him and serve Him. That is great, but what He may want of us is to simply live our life for Him in whatever we do, and declare Him by our consecrated lifestyle and confession of faith.
YOUR LIFE IS A CALLING - Aside from the fact that we are all called to repentance and salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and to live holy and godly lives in Him, not everyone is called to the ministry or even a specific occupation, but we are all called to serve God in everything we do. So if God hasn't called you into the "ministry" (as with most people) we are still expected to serve Him in whatever we do with our life. Therefore, whatever you are doing is a service to God. Dear friends, let's look at this more clearly. What does God need from us? How we serve God is largely reflected in what we do for our fellow man. Remember, the commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Therefore, the care for your family, your occupation, and your involvement in society is also your service to God!
There are those, and definitely not the majority, who seem to know exactly what they want to do or feel (even unknowingly) called to specific tasks, like maybe doctors and government leaders. Tradespeople have a specific advantage.... and the rest of us just struggle to make a living. But do not downplay that ("For who has despised the day of small things?" Zechariah 4:10) because almost every job has a needed place in society, and is a benefit to all that receive from it. So then, your occupation before the Creator is huge regardless of what anyone thinks, including yourself. In it, you are in Christ's stead ministering to those around you. Think about it. Every person you meet will, as my senior pastor would say, "SPEND ETERNITY SOMEWHERE," and you have an opportunity to love and serve them as Jesus Christ loves and would serve them. This turns everything we do into incredible value and an exciting possibility!!! Praise the Lord! This does not mean you are going to like the job you are doing. Not everyone is cut out or designed for all the varying types of work. I know that I am not. But in the meantime, we must never lose sight of our unending call to serve Christ as we make a living for ourselves.
If the Lord has not directed you to do anything specific for Him, then the life you are living is His will for you and for those in your life (at this period of time). So live it before Him with all your heart in whatever you do. He has made it so simple for us. Keep in your mind and heart the cross of Christ, and love your neighbor. In doing this you will always be moving in the right direction. Do yourself a favor and be a student of the Word of God - the Bible. This contains all the directives for our lives, and stay in Christian fellowship as much as possible.
CHOOSING A DIRECTION
God has left us the best tools, Prayer, the Bible, His Holy Spirit, and godly leadership, to help us find our way. So we are not alone in this.
CARING
Many people want to know what God wants them to do, but we need to start where God our Loving Heavenly Father started - CARING. This is the dividing point between those whose heart is toward God and those whose heart is not (Matthew 25:31-46). When God asked Cain where his brother Abel was (after Cain just killed him), how did he answer "I know not. Am I my brother's keeper?" Genesis 4:9 Let's be honest here. If you don't care about the welfare of your brothers in Christ and the welfare of those who don't know Jesus, should you expect God Who is completely engaged in our care, to guide you, especially when He calls us to join Him in caring for others? No, we can't carry everyone, but we can carry those whom he puts on our hearts and in our lives.
BUT WHAT IF I AM NOT A 'PEOPLE' PERSON?
- To love and care about people does not mean that you want to be around them all the time. We can still love and care about them (though it may not always be easy, which is why it is a commandment) through the work and service we provide.
WHAT IF WHAT I LIKE TO DO OR AM GIFTED TO DO DOES NOT INVOLVE PEOPLE, like a computer tech or a mechanic?
- We must realize that most of what we do benefits others, so when we do it as unto the Lord with the hope that our work will help others, we are fulfilling the will of God in it. Other than prayer, how much more can you do other than give Him your best in it.
STEPPING OUT INTO LIFE
"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord upholds him with his hand." Psalm 37:23-24 (means you might not always get it right, but don't give up, get up, and continue on with the Lord).
"And whatever you do, do it heartily as unto the Lord and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance, for you serve the Lord Christ." Colossians 3:23-24
As you are starting out in life God often puts interests and desires in your heart, and as long as your heart is devoted to the glory of God and His Kingdom, step out in faith and do what it takes to head out in that direction and let Him direct your steps "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." Proverbs 16:9 Opposition and difficulty do not mean the Lord is not in it, it may just require focus, discipline, and the determination of faith. What does the Bible say about your situation, or is the Holy Spirit wanting to get your attention about something?
Being pragmatic - Idealisms are not always sensible in the reality of life. You may want to be an artist, but you have to eat, or even more importantly, you may have a family to provide for, so guess what you will have to do. My brother became a very successful artist, yet with a lot of hard work and sacrifice. That was his dream and it did come true, but he did all the practical steps to make it happen. "But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." 1 Timothy 5:8 So in choosing an occupation you must obviously decide what you can do to support yourself, and possibly a family if that is your lot. With this in mind, you put your best foot forward and take the right education for the development of your abilities. Don't expect God to just drop things into your lap, although He may. "Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." Matthew 7:7 You just need to decide what it is you need to do and apply your faith and actions to it. As a counterbalance, never let pragmatism be an excuse to compromise Biblical principles and morals, nor disregard the guidance and check of the Holy Spirit.
FOLLOWING YOUR DREAMS AND DESIRES
DREAMS AND DESIRES
God often plants desires and dreams in our hearts. Typically we should pursue them with determination, humility, and wholeheartedness, but
there are things we must be aware of when wanting to pursue these:
THE FIRST - is that we must always be on guard against our motives and tendencies. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9, "He that trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whosoever walks wisely, he shall be delivered." Proverbs 28:26.
THE SECOND - is deception. Therefore, these interests and desires must be qualified. "The simple believes every word, but the prudent looks well to his going." Proverbs 14:15
We often think that our desires, dreams, interests, and especially our values, are fine, and even from God Himself; however, because of the FIRST line of concerns, we are subject to deception. Many believers, and even our own selves have gone down roads and pursuits that were costly, even painful, and not only to ourselves but also to others in our lives, especially our families. That does not necessarily mean that the original intentions were wrong, but perhaps how they were pursued. Here are some guidelines that can be helpful when intending to pursue a dream or desires:
- Have you earnestly prayed about it and gotten direction from the Lord?
- IS IT BIBLICALLY SOUND - What does the Bible say about such an interest or activity?
- Have you sounded it out with an authority in your life, like a parent, a pastor, or your spouse?
- What is the cost? I am not just referring to money. What kind of sacrifices will it require, and who else will end up paying for your ambition - your wife and children...? What (and who) are you willing to sacrifice to make it happen. You had better be in the will of the Lord and not be presumptuous. Many ministers of God lost their children to the world because they did not carry out their service to Christ with wisdom, good judgment, and His divine guidance.
- Are you willing to drop it, be challenged, or corrected? If not, you could be heading for trouble. "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy." James 3:17
- What are your motives? Are you pursuing gain of some kind, which may be alright if it is not an issue of greed? Are you wanting fame, or to impress people? Is a fear of some kind behind it?
- What is the source of your values? Why do you think what you want to pursue or attain is so important? Is that what Jesus would agree to? Who sent the standard that you have such a high regard for it???
- Where will it take you, and into what arena if you succeed, or if you fail? In the end, how will it appear before God your Heavenly Father?
Here is a Biblical example of what I am referring to, although there are many other scenarios: "...supposing that gain is godliness, form such withdraw yourself...But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil. which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." 1 Timothy 6:5, 9-10 There is a difference between the pursuit of excellence in what we do, as opposed to the pursuit of personal gain in what we do. In everything we do, it should reflect the heart and character of our Lord and Savior. "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself." Philippians 2:3
PURSUING HAPPINESS -
"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content." 1 Timothy 6:6-7
The pursuit of happiness has a place, but again it must be qualified and regulated. The desire and intention to improve your situation and or the situations of others is honorable, and by the grace of God engage with all your heart without losing sight of whatever else He has given you to tend to. A snare we can get into is the assumption that our lives should be a certain way and that is what we deserve. Holding to this assumption, our original motive can change into a selfish ambition from which we must flee away.
Let's look at the focus and outcome of a follower of Jesus Christ. Mind you expect many obstacles, hardships, and even suffering, but that is the cost of the cross He calls us to bear, but what a life! It starts with:
- "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you." Matthew 6:33, notice, we don't seek the things first.
- "I delight to do Your will, O my God. Yes, Your law is within my heart." Psalm 40:8
- "Jesus said unto them, 'My meat(food) is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work." John 4:34. That work, which is our salvation is finished for us, but now we have His life in us that we get to live, and therein is our fulfillment.
- "...no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly." Psalm 84:11
- "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4 What, you mean that we don't have to chase our desires??? That is a huge relief. Instead, we live to please the Lord, "Therefore we have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him." 2 Corinthians 5:9
- Not all the promises are awaiting us in this life, "But now they desire a better country, that is a heavenly, wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared for them a city." Hebrews 11:16 (read the whole chapter).
- "And now, behold, I (Paul) go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there, but that the Holy Spirit witnesses in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear to myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus..." Acts 20:22-24 When Jesus calls us to take up our cross and follow Him, the cumulative joy is finishing the course He has called us to.
- In the journey, His companionship, along with His peace and love, is His joy. "THOU WILL SHOW ME THE PATH OF LIFE: IN THY PRESENCE IS FULNESS OF JOY. AT THY RIGHT HAND ARE PLEASURES FOR EVERMORE!!!" PSALM 16:11
May you find the will of God in your life! Very best wishes in Christ Jesus.
Comments
Post a Comment