Thursday, July 12, 2007

Knowing God's Will

Lately I have been thinking on the topic of knowing God's will. I believe that God's will is something that Scripture says we can know (Rom. 12:1-2). Some aspects of God's will are even clearly stated in Scripture. For example, 1 Thess. 4:3 says "For this is the will of God, your sanctification..." But what about those decisions we have to make in life that Scripture does not directly speak to? How are we to discern God's will in those decisions? How do we know whether it is God's will for us to take that new job, move to that new city, or use the resources he has given us in a certain way? At a more basic level, does God's will have anything to do with these types of decisions or can believers just decide what to do based on logic and their own wisdom? I have a few thoughts on how I think God reveals His will to us in these decisions, but I would love to hear the thoughts of others before I offer my own.

3 comments:

Juan said...

Grat post, I am in the middle of a big move, do i do not or not. Right now I am just praying and waiting to see what happens. I think one big aspect of God's will is our patience. I think of all that Paul went through, ships sinking, snake bitten etc. and not all bad things mean that God does not want something in your life.

HMMM

Thanks
Juan

Drew Pearce said...

Granted that my opinion hinges on certain presuppositions, but I don't think we are supposed to try and discern God's will for things that are not already revealed. These things are hidden from man. He has already given us all that we need for life and godliness, and we can be sure that whatever happens is God's will. I'm not willing to say that God can't or doesn't supernaturally intervene in some circumstances to reveal His hidden will, but that we ought not to fixate on looking for those interventions. He will reveal them if He chooses. If He does not, then be a wise decision maker.

Alan Knox said...

Drew,

I appreciate your comment, and I think I understand where you are coming from, but I'm wondering if you would explain something to me. Why would Paul pray this for the Colossian believers if they were not "supposed to try and discern God's will for things that are not already revealed": And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding... (Col 1:9)

Or... why would Paul instruct the Roman Christians in this way: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Rom 12:2)

And... If everything we can know about God's will has already been fully revealed, why do we need to "try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord"? (Eph 5:10)

I am not asking this just to badger you... I really am interested.

-Alan