Trying to figure out the will of God leaves some confused. They don't know which direction to go or what to do. This can lead to strange methods of determining God's will, as well as discouragement if or when something doesn't happen like we think it should.
The Bible may not have a chapter or verse that tells you your future spouses name, or whether or not you should buy a Honda or a Toyota, but the Bible does speak clearly about the will of God. If you'll do what the Bible says on a daily basis, you'll always be in the will of God. It really is that simple.
And those who do the will of God are considered to be part of the family of God. Jesus said, "For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother." (Mark 3:35 ESV)
1) Being a good citizen is the will of God!
1 Peter 2:13-15 (ESV)
13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme,
14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.
15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.
Voice your opinion, stand up for what is right, and exercise your right to vote. And be a good citizen about it.
I can only imagine what Peter must have felt as the Holy Ghost moved upon him to write these words. You have to realize the oppression they were under. The Romans had put demands upon their citizens and upon those whom they had conquered, and at times it was overbearing. Taxation became a problem. Political officials accepted bribes to vote certain ways. Those with money could buy their way out of problems that the common man had to deal with. Kind of sounds like the USA today, doesn't it.
And while I realize there is corruption in politics, I still must remain a good citizen. Why? Because it is the will of God for me to do so.
2) Moral purity is the will of God!
1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 (ESV)
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;
4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,
5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;
6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you.
7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.
8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
The moral fabric of society unravels more and more each day. I can remember when certain clothing was banned from public schools, and yet today the dress code of many is provocative and immodest.
And while this seems to be at epidemic levels, let us also realize that the age of social networking and the internet have created a major outlet for porn and immorality. It is the will of God that we exercise self control remaining morally pure!
I won't visit a "red-light" district downtown, and neither will I visit an immoral website. Why, because it is the will of God that I remain morally pure.
3) Giving thanks is the will of God!
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV)
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
The KJV states, "In every thing give thanks..." We live in a very thankless society. Unfortunately, a generation has risen that seems to be unthankful. In fact, a part of the perilous times that is prophesied for the last days includes unthankfulness.
The will of God for you is to be thankful in ALL CIRCUMSTANCES! I will not allow my circumstances to detour me from being grateful and thankful to God for who He is! I will be thankful when things go good or when things go bad. Similar to the vows I exchanged with my wife, I will be thankful in the good days and the bad ones, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, till death do us part!
These three important Scriptures give explicit detail to the knowing the will of God. Could it be that as we are thankful in all things, remain morally pure, and are good citizens that we must just "stumble" upon the will of God in our daily lives.
I fear too many are searching for some mysterious "will of God" that doesn't exist. Opening your Bible and dropping your finger upon it while your eyes are closed may lead you to a good passage, or might lead you to something you don't want to read. Basing the will of God on feelings or whether or not the sun shines today will also lead to confusion.
Why not just practice a daily life of being good, remaining morally pure, and being thankful? In this practice, I believe that one will always be in the will of God, no matter what the circumstance.
Oh, by the way, it is eternally important to do the will of God...
1 John 2:15-17 (ESV)
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.
17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
