We’re continuing our series, Finding God’s Will. Last time, we explored how a heart set on God is the first aspect in finding God’s will: https://www.staffandstones.com/?p=6679
Today, we’re going to examine the second aspect in finding God’s will…
STUDY.
There is something about the word–study–that makes us cringe, or at least pause. Often when we think of study, we think of an exam. “There must be a test if I’m to study,” we often assume.
What if we changed the notion of study to something different? What if we said, to study simply means to explore?
Remember when you were a kid, and you had so many questions? Kids ask a lot of questions, because they’re subconsciously forming their schema for life. As a result, they’re studying–exploring–many things by asking questions, gaining knowledge, and ultimately making decisions.
Now, when it comes to God’s will, what if our study was more an exploration of God’s Word? This is the treasure map to God’s heart. It’s the roadmap to walking in step and in fellowship with Him. Experience, intuition, education, and insight simply are not sufficient to understand what God desires. We have to explore or study the place where He has already revealed His will–the Bible. But, how many times do we have closed Bibles on our desks, and instead rely upon experience, intuition, education, and insight to guide our lives? There’s certainly a place for each of these, but they’re not primary.
As such, many people today have plenty of Bibles in their homes, but there are not the hours each day to show their exploration of God’s Word. How can we ever expect to know God’s will for our lives if were not willing to explore what He has already revealed?
God’s Word is not a cryptic and antiquated document–as many so-called educated and enlightened people in our world would have us think. God gave His Word through centuries of history and living and facts. He has documented for us how He has moved in and through humanity and the ages. God’s Word is where Ezra went to find direction for his life, and it’s the same place for us today.
The questions are:
What is your soul-thirst?
Are you walking in step with God?
Are you willing to sacrifice your time, treasure, and talents to explore God’s Word to find God’s will for your life?
- What is your soul-thirst?
- Consider David in the Psalms:
- Psalm 42:1-2 – Deer to stream…Soul to God/Soul thirsts for God…living God
- Psalm 63:1 – Earnestly seek God…soul thirsts/in a dry and weary land
- Psalm 107:9 – God satisfies a longing soul
- Psalm 119:81 – Soul longs for His salvation… “I hope in Your Word”
- Psalm 143:6 – Stretched out hands…soul longs for God
- If God’s Word is not your source of life to understand God’s will, then you are probably looking at God’s Word more as a picture and not a window. Ask Him to change your vision for His Word.
- Consider David in the Psalms:
- Are you walking in step with God?
- Consider the proximity of your life as it relates to your time, treasure, and talents invested in the things of God. Look at your daily calendar. Where do you spend most of your days? Take an inventory of what you are spending your money on. Who or what is getting the majority? Consider your spiritual gift(s). Do you know what they are? Are you investing them in the body of Christ for its edification and equipping?
- Consider the following passages:
- 1 Corinthians 12:13 – All who turn to Christ in faith are baptized into one Spirit…you are one with the body of Christ through faith. You are therefore loved and sacrificed for by Christ. You are positionally as close as you could ever be. However, if you are grieving and quenching the Spirit, then you’re walking as far away from fellowship as you could ever be. God won’t let His children stay there long.
- Ephesians 5:17-18 – When Paul talks about not being drunk, what he is saying is, “don’t let yourself try to induce a more open experience with the deities through a mind-altering substance–which is what the pagans believe in his day would happen through drunkenness.” The real question is, “Is God enough?” If so, then be filled by Him, not mind-altering substances. God’s Word is what fills you. Thus, let the pain of life be what it is, and know that God has not left you, but instead is more near to you–because of Christ.
- Consider Peter’s life and times of proximity and seperation from Christ:
- Matthew 14 – Walks on water…Trust/Near…Lack Trust/Fall
- Matthew 16 – Says who Christ is…God revealed
- John 18:10 – Cuts off guards ear…near Christ
- John 18:27 – Denies Christ…
- Acts 2:14 – Peter brought back into fold and used by God…
- Are you willing to sacrifice your time, treasure, and talents to explore God’s Word to find God’s will for your life?
- Consider Paul’s charge to present our bodies as living sacrifices…
- Romans 12:1 – a sacrifice is used in worship. Is your life a life of sacrifice to study and the exploration of God’s Word?
- The response to God’s Word is like Josiah’s of old in 2 Kings 22:8-11…
- The king in an instant realized God’s Word was now going to be their guide, and his response was utter humility and subsequent submission.
- Consider Paul’s charge to present our bodies as living sacrifices…
Many of us have become lackadaisical or even indifferent to the study and exploration of God’s Word. How would we ever know God’s Will if so? Study is the rocky path…the path of sacrifice…the path of being confronted with our sin and need…but the good path that leads to life and understanding of God’s will.
May we be people of the Book… May we endeavor to explore God’s Word everyday… May we trust that it is sufficient for our understanding of God’s will for our lives…
“…for the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort—for the sake of his good pleasure—is God.“
Philippians 2:13
CLICK HERE for a help on beginning to explore God’s Word…
— August 28, 2020