God's Will

During Bible study last Friday, Pastor Joshua asked a simple question. A question that many Christians have been asking themselves.

"What must I do to know God's will?"

At first I wanted to know the answer too. Who wouldn't want to know God's will and live in it? Then the answer smacked me in the face. It was so obvious but I didn't see it before.

God's will is not about us "doing". Being under God's will is something that can only be received by grace. It is not by our works that we fall under His will. When we understand that righteousness is God's gift, and that we cannot inherit it, it is then that we are in God's will.

Knowing the grace that takes away all our sins, we can live a blessed life. There is no condemnation because our record has been wiped clean.

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The message today was also about God's will. Rev. Cole Stringer was talking about how Paul was commissioned by God to preach to the Gentiles, the non-Jews. However, for 5 years, Paul preached to the Jews with little success in his ministry. It was only after 5 years that Paul decided to preach to the Gentiles and his minstry grew.

He was also protected. When he was preaching to the Jews, he often was persecuted, but when he followed what God's will was for him, he was protected. He did not even have to defend himself, God protected him from persecution.

To preach to the Jews for 5 years, it shows that Paul's heart went out to his people. Maybe that is why he stayed at it for 5 years despite the persecutions. However, when he went according to God's plan, not only did Paul influence Gentiles, but the Jews were influenced as well.

I believe that sometimes, our dreams and aspirations may be one thing, but God tells us to do something else. But if we follow God, in the end, our dreams and aspirations will still be fulfilled. That's how great a God He is.

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Smile, smile, Jesus loves you!