Jan 17 – ACCORDING TO THE WILL!

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven” (Mathew 7:21).

It is easy to call “Lord, Lord.” But submitting fully to do the will of God is hard to follow. It is easier for one to say that I love God. But what is hard is to obey His commandments which God expects. It is easy to remain as believers. But what is hard is to surrender to do His will holistically.

Once, I was quoting from the Scripture to explain a sister the importance of receiving baptism, but she did not like to hear. She said, “I love God, and so, I will reach heaven.” Jesus said, “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love” (John 15:10).

It is of no use to calling Him ‘Lord, Lord’ after failing to do His will. One who loves God has to get rid of all the sins that have to be got rid of. He has to carry out all the laws that are to be fulfilled. One should fully submit himself to the will of God and move ahead.

Once, the famous servant of God, Spurgeon went to a prison to do the ministry. When he asked the criminals there whether they believed God, they replied positively. They believed God but continued to live in sin, and it is because of this, they had to face the situation of staying in prison.

Look at Jonah. Indeed, he is a powerful servant of God. But when God asked him to go to Nineveh, he boarded a ship to move towards Tarshish, disobeying the will of God. Just think whether God accepted this. God created a turbulent sea in Jonah’s life. He prepared a fish, made it to swallow Jonah and taught him the importance of fulfilling the will of God.

The prayer of David was always as follows. “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness” (Psalm 143:10). Dear children of God, when you submit yourself to do the will of God, you will be found in the family of God. You will find a place in His fellowship. So, submit yourself to do the will of God.

To meditate: “…make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:21).