What's God's will for MY life?
January 30, 2012Written by Dean
What is God’s will for my life?
About a week and a half ago we were going through Acts 8 and looking at the life of Philip. Amidst everything in that chapter I went off on a little side discussion about God’s will and calling. This always seems to be something people spend a lot of time talking about and look for. Interestingly enough, people in the Bible (such as Philip who heard a clear voice from God) didn’t spend any time looking for God’s specific will. Not only that, but if you take the time to look up some of these words (or phrases) you’ll see that the authors weren’t even concerned about getting us to look for it. So what were they concerned about?
I went to biblegateway and typed in the word called to see what would pop up. Here is a sample of what I found.
And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. Romans 1:6
To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people:… Romans 1:7
To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people… I Corinthians 1:2
God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. I Corinthians 1:9
… God has called us to live in peace. I Corinthians 7:15
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel… Galatians 1:6
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve on another humbly in love. Galatians 5:13
I pray that the eyes of your heart my be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people… Ephesians 1:18
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called. Ephesians 4:4
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15
He has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time… II Timothy 1:9
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do. I Peter 1:15
To this (suffering for doing good – see vs 20) you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. I Peter 2:21
Do not replay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. I Peter 3:9
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! … I John 3:1
Believe it or not, that is not an exhaustive list. But one thing is for sure, the theme of calling seems to be more about being called to hope, to grace, to suffering for doing good, to sonship, to live in peace, etc. than it is about where you should go to college or who you should marry. I can’t help but wonder what the church would look like if we spent our time worrying about what we were called to rather than our calling.
What’s God’s will for my life? Does he have a specific plan for me? Maybe and yes.
If what we’re trying to answer is does God want me to be a campus minister up until a specific date and then move to another job… then maybe. Clearly God called specific people in the Bible at specific times for specific purposes. But it doesn’t seem to be the norm. And even if I am one of those people, I’ll take my cue from those before me and not spend my time fretting over it.
But, if what we’re trying to answer has to do with the type of person God has called me to be… then absolutely. I’ve been called to be a person of peace. I’ve been called to grace and to live in hope. I’ve been called to suffer for doing good in the name of Jesus. I’ve been called to do a lot.
Take some time and look up some of these key words and phrases yourself. Let me know what you find.