Let God Work His Will In You

The God of peace . . . make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Heb. 13:20, 21.

By studying the Word of God, and carrying out its precepts in all their business transactions, men may carefully discern the spirit that controls the actions. In the place of following human impulse and natural inclination, they may learn, by diligent study, the principles that should control the sons and daughters of Adam.

The Bible is the guidebook that is to decide the many difficult problems that rise in minds that are selfishly inclined. It is a reflection of the wisdom of God, and not only furnishes great and important principles, but supplies practical lessons for the life and conduct of man toward his fellow man. It gives minute particulars that decide our relation to God and to each other. It is a complete revelation of the attributes and will of God in the person of Jesus Christ, and in it is set forth the obligation of the human agent to render wholehearted service to God, and to inquire at every step of the way, “Is this the way of the Lord?” . . . 

A deceiving crookedness is discernible in the minds of those whose eyes are not anointed with the heavenly eyesalve that they may see all things in the light of God’s Word. The will becomes enslaved, bound to pursue a course which the Word of God will not justify. The will of the human agent is not to be given into the control of any other man. When merged into the will of other men, it is misleading. . . . 

If the human agent consents, God can and will so identify His will with all our thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts and minds into conformity to His Word, that when obeying His will, we are only carrying out the impulses of our minds. All such will not possess an unsanctified, selfish disposition, ready to carry out their own wills, but will have a jealous, earnest, determined zeal for the glory of God. They will not want to do anything in their own strength, and will guard strictly against the danger of promoting self.

All who would perfect a Christian character must wear the yoke of Christ. If they would sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, they must learn of Him while on this earth. Our natures are in need of discipline. They must be conformed to the nature of Jesus Christ, that He may accomplish the good He designs to do for all who will submit to be molded by yielding their natures to His authority. The great Teacher will yoke up with every soul who will bear His yoke.

Cast Your Cares upon Him

Scripture: “Humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.  Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”  1 Peter 5:6-7.

When you have the choice between using your energy to be joyful or using your energy to fret, which do you choose?  In your work, are you able to focus on the task at hand, or do concerns pull your attention away?  At home, can you delight in sharing your love with your family and friends, or do you snap and yell at them in your anxiety?

Go for God's Gold

What in the world can there be that is better for us, than what God wants for us?  His will in our lives is perfect, and that’s what we want to strive for. God’s love is better than riches, better than entertainment, better than luxurious surroundings or succulent food.  When we seek God’s will for our lives, it pleases Him, and we can rejoice!

Jesus told His followers,"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.”  (Luke 12:31)

In other words, live for God, and He will provide what you need.  We can trust Him in that and have peace.

We Live for God, Our Lives Show It

When is it easiest to choose to use your energy to be joyful, rather than to fret? When are you most at peace?  When is your life delightful?  What makes you feel like you’ve accomplished the most?

For Christians, we are gladdened when our lives show that we are living for God: we follow His will, sharing His love through the Gospel with many people.

Many Christians feel triumphant peace in the Lord when our lives produce fruit for His glory.  We seek His Kingdom first and trust Him for all else. It’s like relaxing in the arms of a loving parent after a job well done.

We can trust God and lean upon Him.  We don’t need to depend on ourselves, letting our own worries get the best of us.  When we trust God, we give over our cares to Him and can produce the fruit of good soil.

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!” the Prophet Isaiah wrote to God.  He advised His people, “Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.”  (Isaiah 26:3-4)

Let us fix our thoughts upon the Lord, for He is our eternal Rock!

Because We Are Free

Living for God, with our thoughts fixed upon Him, will lead to our caring more deeply about our fellow people.  We yearn to share the freedom from sin God gives us with others; because we are free from the burden, we want them to be, too.  We have given our cares to God, and want others to experience that freedom from worry, as well.

 “You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the Truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters.  Love each other deeply with all your heart.  For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living Word of God.” (1 Peter 1:22-23) 

Our God will let us know when we have lived according to His will; one day, we hope to hear Him tell us face-to-face.  For now, we are His and each others’ servants. We give over any worry we might have to the Master, trusting in Him, and He will allow our lives to be peaceful, fruitful, and joyful.

Christ Intercedes For You

We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. Heb. 8:1, 2.

The natural eye can never behold the comeliness and beauty of Christ. The inward illumination of the Holy Spirit, revealing to the soul its true hopeless, helpless condition without the mercy and pardon of the Sin-bearer—the all-sufficiency of Christ—can alone enable man to discern His infinite mercy, His immeasurable love, benevolence, and glory.

No one ever came to our world on such an errand of grace, infinite compassion, and unspeakable love, as our Saviour; and none ever received such treatment at the hands of fallen man. “Ye are not your own; ye are bought with a price” (see 1 Cor. 6:19, 20). We are Christ’s by creation, His by redemption. He is the only sinless Being who endured suffering, shameful humiliation, and rejection in our behalf. . . . 

Then, how should those who become new creatures in Christ Jesus, saved by His merits, conduct themselves before the universe of heaven? Shall they complain? Shall they accuse one another? Would not a meek and submissive spirit be more becoming? “Learn of me,” said the great Teacher, “for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Shall we reveal this spirit in our characters? Shall we wear His yoke, and lift His burdens? . . . 

Could all see Christ before the throne, waiting for their prayers, waiting for them to surrender their will, to cease their rebellion and come back to their allegiance to God, in deep penitence they would pray the Father to forgive their transgression of His law, and forgive them for the influence they have exercised in causing others to disregard the law of Jehovah. The confederacies of the enemy’s army are triumphing in their delay. Will they longer remain under the condemnation of the law? Or, will they stand on the side of Christ, and with their influence help the betrayed, rebellious race by their own experimental knowledge? Will they now become co-workers with Jesus Christ, who is making personal intercession for them before the Father? Angels are keeping back the destroying agencies, for they have an intense interest for these rebellious sons, and they want to help them to return to the fold in safety and peace, that they may finally be overcomers, and be saved, eternally saved with the family of God in heaven.

Are You Preparing For Heaven?

Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1 Cor. 2:9.

What a work is before us. We need greater faith in Christ and the Father, for this we must certainly have, else we shall be counted with the unbelievers. We see great opportunities and a great amount of work to do. We want the sanctification of the Holy Spirit. We cannot afford to miss the mark of the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus. The sanctification of the truth, confirming man’s steadfastness in the faith, will constitute men laborers together with God.

United with the Source of all power, persevering in duty, enlarging the apprehension of the love of God in Christ Jesus, they become one with Christ, until they are complete with Christ in God.

The glories that await the faithful overcomer are beyond any description. The Lord will greatly honor and exalt His faithful ones. They shall grow like the cedar, and their comprehension will be certainly increasing. And at every advanced stage of knowledge their anticipation will fall far beneath the reality. “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Cor. 2:9). Our work now is to prepare for those mansions that God is preparing for those who love Him and keep His commandments.... The Lord Jesus will enlarge every mind and heart for the reception of the Holy Spirit. . . . 

Time is short. Let the little time you have be employed for your own present and eternal good by active Christian service, doing all the good possible. Redeem the time that has been lost; seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Then you will have something to impart in good works, in cheerful, consecrated influence. . . . 

What preparation have you made for the future, eternal world? . . . You want something higher and better than you now have. You may exert a conscious and unconscious influence in right doing. God deserves something better from you as His subject than that which you have given Him. Carefully consider: Are you standing under the banner of Prince Emmanuel, or under the black banner of the prince of darkness? There is an obligation resting upon you to return the influence and money that is lent you of the Lord to advance His cause and glorify His name.

The Lord calls upon you, “My son, give me thine heart.”

The Word Of God Your Guide

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Ps. 119:105.

If we would work wisely and intelligently, our human passions, our hereditary and cultivated tendencies, must be brought under the control of a higher and more commanding generalship than human ability. . . . 

“Cease to do evil; learn to do well.” This is the lesson everyone should learn day by day. The training due to one’s self comes first. The influence exerted by a life of strict integrity will be a continual education to others. Those who are restrained and guided by the moral and religious principles plainly laid down in God’s Word walk in accordance with the mind and will of God, who is too wise to err and too good to do us harm.

If you would walk wisely, walk in the way of God’s commandments. The Word of God you have in your keeping, right at hand. This Word is so plain that none need go astray unless they allow themselves to be led by their hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong. Your Redeemer met Satan’s treacherous advances with the words, “It is written,” and with the imperative command, “Get thee behind me, Satan.” I counsel you to receive with meekness the engrafted Word, which is able to save your soul. The Word of God is your haven. It is a tower of strength, into which you may run and be safe. . . . 

The earnest, sincere searcher for truth will not mistake truth for error. The Word of God is the bread of life, of which all may partake and obtain eternal life. Error is falsehood and deception. Those who partake of it must suffer in consequence, as did Adam and Eve in Eden. It is the privilege of all to search with prayerful, eager interest for the truth. Truth is the tree of life, the leaves of which the human family are to eat and live.

Those who try to interpret the Word according to their own ideas, who read it in accordance with their opinions, will never see the truth, and will die in their sins. Those who eat of the forbidden tree accept Satan’s fallacies in the place of “Thus saith the Lord,” and unless they repent, they will never gain that life which measures with the life of God. As did Adam and Eve, they exclude themselves from the tree of life, the fruit of which perpetuates immortality. . . . 

We are living amid the solemnities of the judgment. Our souls should be filled with awe, for we are in God’s presence continually. Each one must decide for himself whether he will obey and live or disobey and perish.

To those who obey, the Word of God is the tree of life. It is the word of salvation, received unto eternal life.

Things Thou Knowest Not

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. Jer. 33:3.

We do not always consider that the sanctification we so earnestly desire and for which we pray so earnestly is brought about through the truth and, by the providence of God, in a manner we least expect. When we look for joy, behold there is sorrow. When we expect peace, we frequently have distrust and doubt because we find ourselves plunged into trials we cannot avoid. In these trials we are having the answers to our prayers. In order for us to be purified, the fire of affliction must kindle upon us, and our will must be brought into conformity to the will of God. In order to be conformed to the image of our Saviour, we pass through a most painful process of refining. The very ones that we regard the most dear upon the earth may cause us the greatest sorrow and trial. They may view us in the wrong light. They may think us in error, and that we are deceiving and degrading ourselves because we follow the dictates of enlightened conscience in seeking for the truth as for hid treasures. . . . 

Our prayers for conformity to the image of Christ may not be answered exactly as we desire. We may be tested and proved, for God sees it best to put us under a course of discipline which is essential for us before we are fit subjects for the blessing we crave. We should not become discouraged and give way to doubt, and think that our prayers are not noticed. We should rely more securely upon Christ and leave our case with God to answer our prayers in His own way. God has not promised to bestow His blessings through the channels we have marked out. God is too wise to err and too regardful of our good to allow us to choose for ourselves.

The plans of God are always the best, although we may not always discern them. Perfection of Christian character can be obtained only through labor, conflict, and self-denial. . . . 

How inestimably precious are the gifts of God—the graces of His Spirit—and we shall not shrink from the trying, testing process, be it ever so painful or humiliating to us. How easy would be the way to heaven if there were no self-denial or cross! How worldlings would rush in the way, and hypocrites would travel in it without number! Thank God for the cross, the self-denial. The ignominy and shame our Saviour endured for us is none too humiliating for those saved by the purchase of His blood. Heaven will indeed be cheap enough.

Faith for the Faithless

Scripture: "Lord, I have faith.  Help my weak faith to be stronger!” ." Mark 9:24

What would our lives be like if we believed the way God deserves to be believed in?  What would our lives be like if we trusted in Jesus the way He called His followers to trust?  What would our lives be like if we had faith that the Holy Spirit lives within us to comfort, to teach, to guide, and more…?

Nothing can separate us from God's love

No matter what, God loves us!  As followers of Christ, we can be closer to God, working to follow His will and share His love with others.

Paul the Apostle wrote in his letter to the Roman Christians, “I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  (Romans 8:38-39)

God’s plan for the future of Earth and humanity might be beyond our understanding; and yet, He reveals Himself and His will to us at times.

In the Old Testament, we read the story of Creation, of God’s promise to Abraham and Sarah, of how God tried to show the children of Israel the Way to righteousness.  He declared to His people, “‘I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for well-being and not for trouble, to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  You will look for Me and find Me, when you look for Me with all your heart.’”  (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

We read in the New Testament of the Way God provided.  Today, we accept God’s promise of finding Him when we look for Him in faith and trust Him with all our hearts.

However, sometimes bad things happen don't they?

In the story from Mark 9 (which also appears in other Gospels), an anxious father brought his extremely ill son to Jesus for healing.  The Gospels say that an evil spirit, or a demon, possessed the boy, causing him to lose his voice and convulse, throwing him into the fire or well.

In front of the crowd following Him, Jesus decried the faith of the people of His time, saying, “You people of this day have no faith.  How long must I be with you?  How long must I put up with you?”  (Mark 9:19)

The father begged for help, but Jesus said, “The one who has faith can do all things.”  (Mark 9:23)

At this point, the father cried out to the Lord that he did believe, and asked Jesus to make his faith stronger.  As more people gathered around, Jesus healed the boy, rebuking the evil spirit so it could not return.

“Bad things” have happened since history was recorded, and we continue to be afflicted today:  what is upsetting you and your friends and family?  What illnesses trouble your lives?

Faith like a child

We “know” that our Lord has dominion over our problems.  But it is sometimes so hard to have faith – to really believe – that they can be resolved in a godly way!

Jesus was teaching a radical new way of thinking and of living.  It’s still an amazing concept today:  to treat people with love and respect, believing that God can work in our lives to help us deal with everything from personality conflicts to illness!

In Matthew’s account, when His Disciples questioned Jesus about why they were unable to heal the boy, “He replied, ‘Because you have so little faith.  Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move.  Nothing will be impossible for you.’”  (Matthew 17:20)

A mountain of trouble

When our problems seem like mountains, it can be easy to lose our faith.  Jesus often had to scold His closest friends for their lack of faith – and they were watching His miracles, face-to-face, at an incredible rate!  But because we, too, can be counted as friends of Jesus, we can see His miracles, too.

When faced with a problem, we first must pray.  We turn to God, and although He knows everything about us, we are called to lay our troubles at His feet.  Describe them; tell God how you feel about each part of the issue.  Then ask Him to help.

Secondly, we must believe.  God’s Word calls us to faith, to believe, so many times.  No matter what, trust in God’s love and guidance, through each step of the resolution – whatever it might be.

Next, often, we must act.  Sometimes, God will act miraculously.  But frequently, He asks us to put our hands to the labor of the solution.  If we are sick, we might have to eat more healthfully, exercise, or take medicine.  If we have relational issues, we might have to humble ourselves before another person, compromise in a way we don’t like, or even end a relationship.  If we lack funds, we might have to work harder or longer to earn more money, budget more carefully, or even do without certain things that aren’t necessary.

Finally, no matter the outcome, we must still work to grow our faith!  Sometimes, God’s will isn’t our will.  But we have to trust our inheritance:  that God has plans for our “future and hope.”

Faith despite sorrow

When we don’t “get our way,” it’s easy to decide that God isn’t deserving of our attention.  When we experience pain and sorrow, it’s easy to forget our trust in Jesus.  When we don’t understand, it’s easy to think that the Holy Spirit isn’t “there for” us.

And when we sin like that, we need to return to the One Who loves us most.  The writer of Psalm 119 understood the need to confess before God, so faith can be restored:

“My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to Your Word. Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me and teach me Your law. I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on Your laws.”  (Psalm 119:28-30)

God loves us and wants the best for His children!  In Him, we place our hope, trust and faith:

“I would have been without hope if I had not believed that I would see the loving-kindness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait for the Lord.  Be strong.  Let your heart be strong.  Yes, wait for the Lord.”  (Psalm 27:13-14)