Study 38 – Fulfilling God's Will

Question: What happens when we genuinely serve God? Answer: His will is fulfilled. God said of David, 'I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who will do all my will' (Acts 13:22 NASB). At the conclusion of his life, David was commended for serving 'God's purpose in his own generation' (Acts 13:36). He had no appetite for dead works or dull routine but was eager to do God's will.

The same is true of Jesus. Towards the close of his ministry he declared, 'Father … I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do' (John 17:4). He said only what the Father told him and did only what the Father showed Him. We glorify God on the earth by doing the works that God has given us to do, nothing more, nothing less. Naturally this involves a close relationship with him.

Jesus' sustenance didn't come from physical food alone. He told his disciples, 'I have food to eat that you know nothing about … My food … is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work' (John 4:32,34). He devoted himself to his God-given task and was completely nourished as he pursued it. We must aim at discerning what God wants us to do and pursuing it with all our hearts. Only a lifestyle characterised by faith, joy and love will accomplish the 'good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do' (Eph. 2:10).

Towards the end of his life King Saul testified, 'Surely I have acted like a fool' (1 Sam. 26:21). By sharp contrast, the apostle Paul (formerly Saul) anticipated his end with the triumphant declaration, 'I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day' (2 Tim. 4:7,8). One Saul ends his life in despair, the other in delight. One experiences regret, the other anticipates reward.

I urge you: enjoy the grace of God, but don't miss out on his best for you. Celebrate the fact that Jesus' blood has cleansed your conscience for ever, serve him gladly and look forward to your reward.

To Meditate On

God's rewards those who do his will.

'You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised' (Heb. 10:36).

'The world and its desires pass away but the man who does the will of God lives for ever' (1 John 2:17).

'To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations' (Rev. 2:26).

To Consider

READ 1 Peter 4:1-5, 12-19

In what circumstances might doing God's will involve suffering?

How should you respond?

Food For Thought

From the following verses, what is God's will for every Christian?

Ephesians 5:17; 6:5,6; Colossians 1:9; 4:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; 5:16-18; Hebrews 13:20,21; 1 Peter 2;15; 1 John 5:14

To Do

PRAY through the content of the verses mentioned above, asking God to let his will become more deeply rooted in your life.

Be Inspired

'The joy of the Lord, the joy that is strength, the joy that no man taketh from us, the joy wherewith we joy before God, the abundant joy of faith and hope and love and praise – this is that gathers like a radiant, fostering, cheerful air around the soul that yields itself to the grace of God, to do his holy, loving will.'
Francis Paget (1851-1911) Bishop of Oxford