“Thy Will Be Done” is an aspiring pledge we make when we pray The Lord’s Prayer. This meditation explores five tenets from the Bible about God’s will for us and our salvation.
The Sermon on the Mount is no doubt the greatest sermon ever preached! Jesus gave that immortal sermon at the beginning of his public ministry. It was His first statement to the people of that day and to us. In this fundamental statement of Christian faith, Jesus teaches us how to pray as follows.
Our Father, which art in heaven,
Matthew 6: 9-13
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory,
For ever and ever.
Amen.
Every passage in this prayer is tremendously significant. However, I want to focus on one passage for this meditation: “Thy will be done.” I have often wondered, “what is God’s will” for my life at this point. What job should I pursue? Where should we live? What church should we attend? And, the questions go on and on.
Do you have those questions?
Let’s see what the Bible tells us about God’s will. For this meditation, I will focus on five biblical instructions. I am grateful to John MacArthur’s teachings on this subject which have provided much insight for me regarding this meditation.
Saved
First we look at John 6:40.
For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.
John 6:40
John records a conversation Jesus had with the crowds that were following Him. In verse 38 Jesus tells them that He did not come to do His own will but to do the will of the one who sent Him (God). Then in verse 40 He told them and us that God’s will is for people to look to Jesus, believe in Him and therefore have eternal life (salvation). So, God’s will for us is salvation.
Spirit-filled
Second we look at Ephesians 5:17 – 19.
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:17–19
The reference to getting drunk on wine went back to the day when that was considered as a way of experiencing God. Drunkenness was thought to provide an “out of body” state which led to a spiritual experience with God. An alternative to this type of experience was the use of drugs to attain the same state.
So, Paul is telling us not to use that method to have a spiritual experience. Instead, we must experience God through the Holy Spirit. We must be led by the Spirit.
Spirit appeared in the form of a dove.
In Acts chapter 2, Peter preaches his first sermon to the Jews who were responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus. When they were “cut to the heart” by his words, they asked Peter what they must do. Peter’s response in verse 38:
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:38
So, God’s will for us is that we yield control of our life to Him . . . the Holy Spirit within us . . . not to an outside, worldly agent.
Luke’s account in Acts indicates that about 3,000 were converted that day. How did that happen? Peter really had an up and down relationship with Jesus.
Three examples of when he was up are
(1) walking on water with Jesus,
(2) proclaiming that Jesus was the son of God, and
(3) experiencing the transfiguration of Jesus.
But he had some real low moments as well:
(1) Jesus called him Satan because he rejected Jesus’ fate on the cross,
(2) drawing his sword to fight when they came to take Jesus away, and
(3) his famous and dreadful denials of Jesus.
But Jesus restored him and in Acts 2 Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to fill each of them and they were led by the Holy Spirit to accomplish the great commission Jesus gave them in Matthew chapter 28. Peter’s sermon, the results and the acts of the apostles demonstrate the power of being filled with the Holy Spirit.
Sanctified
Third, we look at 1 Thessalonians 4:1 – 8.
“As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.
The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.”
1 Thessolonians 4: 1-8
In this passage we learn that it is God’s will that we be sanctified. What does that mean? The phrase “being sanctified” means to be set apart, to be made holy. Practically, it is the process by which we become more Christ-like. The stages in the life of an individual who becomes a believer (redemption) are as follows (John Murray):
Called by God
Given a new heart — Regeneration
Repentance and belief (faith)
Justification — Declared righteousness (not guilty of our sins)
Sanctification — a progressive work of God and man that makes us more and more free from sin and more like Christ (Wayne Grudem).
Glorification — being made perfect in Christ when we go to be with Him.
Notice the link back to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the person of the triune God who works in us to accomplish God’s part of this process. However, we have a responsibility too. We must attend to the spiritual disciplines of prayer, worship, bible study, fasting, the Lord’s Supper, and then the doing of good works which result from our regeneration. Specifically, if we are going to become more like Christ, we must know more about Him and know Him. That can only happen if we learn of Him and about Him in God’s word.
As we invest in the study of the Bible, the Holy Spirit will help us understand the wonderful truths and mysteries that God has given us in His word. Paul reinforces this approach in Romans chapter 12.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Romans 12: 2-3
Our mind is renewed by the study of God’s word as revealed to us by the Holy Spirit. So, God’s will is that we are sanctified…a life-long process of becoming more like Christ.
Submissive
Fourth, we look at 1 Peter 2:13 – 17.
“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.”
1 Peter 2: 13-17
In the aftermath of the 2020 elections, this word from God is very timely. In our daily life, we are to follow the rules and laws of our country. In so doing, we are not asked to violate the laws of God. But, in honoring governmental authorities and doing good, we are a testimony to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If, as Christians, we do not live honorable lives doing good, we bring discredit on what we profess. And, we give nonbelievers a strong reason to reject the Gospel.
So, it is God’s will that we honor Him by living lives that are examples of the life of Christ.
Suffering
This idea leads us to our fifth component of God’s will. . . suffering as told in 1 Peter 4:19.
“So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.”
1 Peter 4:19
In 1 Peter 3 and 4, Paul discusses the concept of suffering for Christ. This idea is also found in other passages in the New Testament. If we live our lives after the pattern of Christ, we will encounter difficulty at some point. It could range from harsh criticism from a friend to the loss of our life. We have seen recent examples of citizens of the United States who have taken a stand based on their Christian beliefs. They have been punished for it by critical press, loss of business, getting fired and other negative actions. But, they trusted in God’s will for them.
In summary, it is God’s will for us to be
1. Saved
2. Spirit-filled
3. Sanctified
4. Submissive
5. Suffer if need be.
If we are living this kind of life, God will reveal His will for us and lead us to do His will (Psalm 37).
Prayer
I echo the prayer of David in Psalm 143, “Lord teach me to do Thy will.”
Amen.
Hymns for Him 