Category Archives: God’s will

Singled Out – Genesis 18:17-19

Posted on by

“Should I hide my plan from Abraham? the Lord asked. For Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him. I have singled him out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. Then I will do for Abraham all that I have promised” (Genesis 18:17-19, NLT).

One day God made a personal visit to Abraham.

Personal appearances by God to Earth are called “theophanies” or “Christophanies” if the appearance seems to represent the pre-incarnate Christ.

Sometimes it is difficult to differentiate in scripture between an angelic appearance or a theophany other than by the context. The context here seems to indicate an appearance of God accompanied by two angels, all appearing in human form (vs. 1-2, 13, 17, 22).

The purpose of the personal visit by God to Abraham was twofold: 1) to confirm God’s covenant with Abraham (vs. 10) and 2) to render judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah (vs. 21) and extend His mercy to Abraham’s family.

After God confirmed His covenant with Abraham, He had a conversation with Himself about confiding in Abraham about His plans to execute judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah.

Since Abraham was God’s chosen one through whom His redemptive plan for humanity would be implemented, God determined to reveal His plans to Abraham.

And God still reveals His plans and purposes to His people today. That’s because God operationalizes His will on Earth through people, His chosen people, those He has singled out!

Just as God chose Abraham and visited him personally, God has singled you out and visits you personally by His indwelling Spirit.

So, find out what plans and purposes God is revealing to you and then operationalize His will in your life. God will surely do all He has promised!

Soul Food – John 4:34

Posted on by

“My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.” Jesus makes these remarks near the well in the Samaritan village of Sychar. Jesus had just told a Samaritan woman who was drawing water from the well that she should drink from the living water that He gives. She went and told the people of the village that Jesus was the Messiah and many came to see him and believed in Him. While all this was occurring, some of Jesus’s disciples urged Him to eat. Just as Jesus told the woman at the well He was the source of life-giving water, He told His disciples He was the source of life-giving food: “I have a kind of food you know nothing about” (vs. 32). So Jesus can supply spiritual nourishment for the hungry souls of people. Furthermore,  Jesus is our model for obtaining spiritual sustenance. He, Himself, was spiritually sustained by doing the will of God and finishing God’s work in His life. In the same way, our spiritual nourishment should be doing the will of God in our own lives to the extent that we complete the work that God intends each of us to do. When Jesus fed the five thousand men (plus women and children) with five loaves of bread and two fish, He commanded His disciples “You feed them” (Matthew 14:16). The disciples responded that they had only a small supply of of bread and fish. “Bring them here” (Matthew 14:18) Jesus told the disciples. Jesus was prepared to miraculously provide nourishment for the large crowd of people by blessing the obedient action of His disciples. When you continuously offer the little that you have to Jesus, then you are enabled and empowered to do God’s will and complete the work He plans to do through your life.

Doing What God is Doing – Genesis 41:16

Posted on by

“It is beyond my power to do this, Joseph replied. But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease.” Pharaoh had two dreams and no one could interpret them for him. Pharaoh’s cupbearer remembered about Joseph interpreting his dream when they were in prison together and told Pharaoh. Pharaoh had Joseph brought to him and asked if he could interpret his dreams. Joseph recognized that God had given Pharaoh the dreams for a purpose. Therefore, God could tell what Pharaoh’s dreams meant and Joseph was confident that God would do so to accomplish His will. Joseph was so filled with the Spirit and wisdom of God that it was apparent to Pharaoh and his officials: “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?” (vs. 38). Because Joseph was full of God’s Spirit, he recognized that God was at work and he joined with God in what he was doing. We each have God’s Spirit in us and like Joseph, by the unction of the Spirit, we should be able to recognize what God is doing within and around our lives and we should join with Him by exercising the gifts and talents He has given to each of us. “So Jesus explained, I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does” (John 5:19).

Willing to Do God’s Will – John 7:17

Posted on by

“If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority” (John 7:17, ESV).

In this verse the teaching of Jesus is clear. To be His disciple requires a conscience act of one’s own will–a personal decision–to believe in Him and obey Him.

No one can make the decision for you. You can’t inherit salvation. Each person must come to the place in his or her own life where it is your will to do God’s will. Those whose will is to do God’s will, then comprehend the reality and truth of the teachings of Jesus and His sacrifice for our sins and are saved. Be willing to do God’s will!

God’s Good Planning – Jeremiah 29:11

Posted on by

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah sent a letter to the exiles in Babylon to reassure them that God has not abandoned them or forgotten his purpose for them. Jeremiah told them that after 70 years God will bring the exiles back to the land of Israel. The Hebrew word for “welfare” is shalom , which covers all aspects of peace and plenty. So God plans good–shalom–for His people. God tells the exiles through Jeremiah that if they will pray and seek Him, then He will hear them and grant them shalom. God’s plans for you are good plans that give you hope for the future! So pray and seek Him to find His shalom for you!