The Will of God

  “. . . For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). The will of God is not so hard to ascertain. God has spelled out much of it for us, in fact, all that He intended us to know, in His revelation, the Bible. The key is to read, study, and meditate on the Word of God. We spend a lot of our tie listening to other sources of information that overload our capacity to think much or deeply on God and His Word. We must fill the recesses of our mind with thoughts of God and let that flow in ceaseless praise! As our thoughts turn upward, it will become evident that in light of our God’s greatness, glory and grace that the things of earth will grow strangely dim (Colossians 3:2). Complaints will diminish, and thankfulness will grow exponentially.
    So often, we are ignorant of God’s will, not only by lack of knowing the Word, but also because we are simply hearers of the Word and not doers of it (James 1:22). We grieve the Holy Spirit that is there to guide us into all truth as we walk not after the Spirit, but walk after the flesh (Ephesians 4:30; Romans 8:12-13). Our disobedience clouds our ability to rightly discern the things that would please our Lord Jesus. Therefore, we must live with a view to that which is good, pure and holy so that we do not throw cold water on the fire of the Spirit, and His illuminating and empowering presence (1 Thessalonians 5:21, 19; 1 Corinthians 2:14). “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification [being set apart to God from sin] . . .” (1 Thessalonians 4:3). In addition, God further emphasizes His desire for right living with all that we are in 1 Thessalonians 5:23. "For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit" (1 Thessalonians 4:7–8). Carefully guard against words, practices, thoughts, places we go, things we view, etc. that would directly oppose God and hinder our ability to know and fulfill God’s will.