James 4:13-17 Knowing & Doing The Will Of God

“When a believer is not in the will of God, he becomes a troublemaker and not a peacemaker … The dangerous life is not in the will of God but out of the will of God.  The safest place in the world is right where God wants you … The will of God comes from the heart of God.  His will is an expression of His love, so I don’t have to be afraid,” my commentary said.

James pointed out three attitudes toward the will of God – ignoring it, disobeying it, and obeying it.  Of course only the last one is the correct response.  About ignoring it, my commentary said, “It is like going through the dark jungles without a map, or over the stormy seas without a compass.”

The second attitude is that of people who know the will of God but choose to disobey it … One reason they choose to disobey His will is pride.  Another is man’s ignorance of the nature of God’s will … It’s not something he can accept or reject … The will of God is not an option; it is an obligation.  We cannot take it or leave it … disobeying God’s will leads to misery …”

As to obeying God’s will, I read, “The will of God is not a chain to shackle us but rather a key that opens doors to set us free … The will of God is tailor-made for each of us … a living relationship between God and the believer.  The relationship is not destroyed when the believer disobeys, for the Father still deals with His child, even if He must chasten … When God cannot rule, he overrules … God adjusts things to bring us back into His will … God wants us to understand His will, knowing not just the what but also the why … How do I determine God’s will for my life?  You start with the thing you know you ought to do, and you do that.  Then God opens the way for the next step.  You prove by experience what the will of God is … and we must do it from the heart, not grudgingly or out of necessity.  If we do, we will miss the blessing.”

Father, You proved yesterday, with the death of 13-year-old Bob Turner, that we don’t know if we have another day or not, so we should use every day as if it is our last, to do Your will.  Help us all to discover Your will for our lives and to obey it willingly, knowing that it comes from Your great heart of love for us.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford