Blake Allen, Student and Outreach Minister, LHBC

Mark 3:31-35
31 And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. 32 And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers[c] are outside, seeking you.” 33 And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”

What is God’s will for my life?

Maybe you’ve asked this question a time or two in your life as you are trying to discern God’s will for you in a specific area. Does God want me to go to this college? Does he want me to marry this person? Does God want me to move to this place? Does he want me to have this job? 

With so many different decisions we have to make in life, we want to make sure we make all the right decisions. As a result, we try to find ways to discern what God’s will is for our life. We may look for it in prayer. We may look for a sign from God on a billboard: “surely it’s God’s will for me to go shopping; the target sign says 40% off.” We may look for confirmation from others. But are we looking for the will of God in the right location? And can we know what God’s will is for our life?

This passage of Scripture tells us that those who do the will of God represent his family. It assumes we know–or at least should know–what God’s will is for us. We also know the will of God is not just something we know, but it is something we DO (emphasis added). “For whoever DOES the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” So what is it that we are to do, and how can we know the will of God for our life? 

God’s will is found in His word. He tells us His will is first and foremost for us to place faith in Christ and be saved (Matt 21:32; Eph 2:8-9). If you have never trusted Christ, his invitation to come to Jesus stands. God proved his love for us that while we were still sinners Christ died for us (Rom 5:8). He wants a relationship with you and has made provision through Jesus Christ. No matter what you have done in the past, we have redemption in Christ and forgiveness of our sins according to his grace (Eph 1:7). Will you come to the cross and experience the freedom there is in Christ? 

After placing faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit guides and directs us in understanding God’s desires revealed in His word. God’s will is not some mystical mystery or puzzle we have to try and solve. We may not know every single detail or step by step plan on what to do in every situation, but we do have God’s word to guide us in making the right decisions. 

For example: It is God’s will for believers to abstain from immorality (1 Thess 4:3). So, if we are contemplating pursuing a relationship that would not be spiritually healthy, God’s will for us is run from that relationship. It is His will for us to do good works (Jas 2:14-26). So, if we have the opportunity to be the “Good Samaritan” and help someone in need, God’s will is for us to love our neighbor and extend a hand. It is His will for us to make disciples (Matt 28:18-20). So, we should be going to the unreached, sharing the Gospel, and teaching those who get saved. 

Another example is God’s command not to steal. We can know from God’s word that we should not embezzle money or pickpocket someone’s wallet. 

God’s word is His revealed will. He provides his parameters for us to stay in when making decisions. But he also allows us to make decisions within those parameters. By following the Spirit and rejecting the ways of the world, we are able to discern God’s will for us (Rom 12:2). By reading God’s word, being filled by the Spirit, and living a life of faithfulness, we can be sure we will be able to discern God’s will for our lives. So, what is God’s will for your life? God’s will is found in His word. Dive deep and discover for yourself. 

PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Father God, thank you for continuing guiding us through your word. Help us to walk in Spirit and in truth, holding fast to your word. We know we can trust that you are with us and that you provide all that we need for salvation and truth. In Jesus Name, Amen.  

MEMORY VERSE FOR THE WEEK
Psalm 27:1
The Lord is my light and my salvation;  whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?