From Connect the Dots by Mike Hurt
God has made his will for every day of our lives clear. You can know what you should do every day. You know how you should think every day. You can know how you should relate to people every day. You can know what God wants for you every day. So where do you find all of this? Do you know where to look to find God’s will for everyday of your life? The answer to this question is simpler than you think. God’s Word, the Bible, is the where we find his will for every day of our lives.
The Bible is a blend of God’s story, his commands, and instruction to his followers. All of Scripture is intended to communicate God’s desires, his will and his plan for the world. Because of this, reading, knowing, studying and applying God’s Word is central to discovering God’s will for everyday of your life.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 outlines three reason that we should look to Scripture as our first and primary source for discovering God’s will for our life. First, all Scripture is God-breathed. If we aren’t careful, we won’t realize the full impact of this reality. The fact that Scripture is God-breathed makes it like nothing else we will read. God inspired men to record his activity. From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals his will for our lives. Have a question, concern, need or desire? Check it against God’s word. Second, It is God’s will that his scriptures: teach us when we are lacking knowledge, rebuke and correct us when necessary, train us to become more like him in our day-to-day lives, and to prepare us for every good work.
If it is true that the word of God is the ultimate source for our lives, why is it that many times it is the last place we check when we look for God’s direction in our lives? Think about the last time you were looking for God’s specific will in your life. What did you do? Maybe you were looking for direction concerning a relationship so you went to a local bookstore and went straight to the relationship section. Here you found a strange blend of relational advice. The advice was incomplete and not fully satisfying. In fact, it is just like almost every book that you have read (except this one of course). It is full of empty words that lack the power to change your life or answer your deepest questions.
When we do this, we let others do the hard work for us. Rather than searching the Bible on our own, we look to others for their take on our situation. If we aren’t careful, we will be more committed to authors instead of the author and perfecter of your faith. What you are reading and putting into practices shows your devotion.
So, am I suggesting that you search for God’s will in a vacuum? Of course not. But if you search for his will yet you never consult his Word, you will never find what you are looking for.
You may find what you want or what others say you should want, but that is not what you are looking for. You are looking for what only Scripture can provide. You are looking for a Word from God. Catch it one more time in 1 Peter 1:21: 21For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. The word of God is like no other source in our world. It is a supernatural book written by God through men to communicate God’s message for generations to come. They did not write their own words or opinions on God’s Word. They spoke for God as his Spirit worked in their life. Because of this, the Bible is our first source for discovering his will in our lives. God’s word tells us God’s moral will is and it also gives us principles that serve spiritual parameters needed to live a God honoring life.
The Bible is a blend of God’s story, his commands, and instruction to his followers. All of Scripture is intended to communicate God’s desires, his will and his plan for the world. Because of this, reading, knowing, studying and applying God’s Word is central to discovering God’s will for everyday of your life.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 outlines three reason that we should look to Scripture as our first and primary source for discovering God’s will for our life. First, all Scripture is God-breathed. If we aren’t careful, we won’t realize the full impact of this reality. The fact that Scripture is God-breathed makes it like nothing else we will read. God inspired men to record his activity. From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals his will for our lives. Have a question, concern, need or desire? Check it against God’s word. Second, It is God’s will that his scriptures: teach us when we are lacking knowledge, rebuke and correct us when necessary, train us to become more like him in our day-to-day lives, and to prepare us for every good work.
If it is true that the word of God is the ultimate source for our lives, why is it that many times it is the last place we check when we look for God’s direction in our lives? Think about the last time you were looking for God’s specific will in your life. What did you do? Maybe you were looking for direction concerning a relationship so you went to a local bookstore and went straight to the relationship section. Here you found a strange blend of relational advice. The advice was incomplete and not fully satisfying. In fact, it is just like almost every book that you have read (except this one of course). It is full of empty words that lack the power to change your life or answer your deepest questions.
When we do this, we let others do the hard work for us. Rather than searching the Bible on our own, we look to others for their take on our situation. If we aren’t careful, we will be more committed to authors instead of the author and perfecter of your faith. What you are reading and putting into practices shows your devotion.
So, am I suggesting that you search for God’s will in a vacuum? Of course not. But if you search for his will yet you never consult his Word, you will never find what you are looking for.
You may find what you want or what others say you should want, but that is not what you are looking for. You are looking for what only Scripture can provide. You are looking for a Word from God. Catch it one more time in 1 Peter 1:21: 21For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. The word of God is like no other source in our world. It is a supernatural book written by God through men to communicate God’s message for generations to come. They did not write their own words or opinions on God’s Word. They spoke for God as his Spirit worked in their life. Because of this, the Bible is our first source for discovering his will in our lives. God’s word tells us God’s moral will is and it also gives us principles that serve spiritual parameters needed to live a God honoring life.
Posted in Decisions Resources