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Once a person begins to follow Jesus, there’s an initial and important question: “What’s God’s will for my life?” We must seek God’s will, as the Apostle John writes, “The world is passing away, along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17, ESV).
There’s an easy principle to finding God’s will — first understand your calling, then seek His will. Calling is more general (all believers have the same calling) while God’s will is more specific (His will for you is different than His will for others).
Calling is general as it relates to our salvation, receiving the Spirit, and eternal hope…
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9, emphasis added).
God’s will gets more personal with specific directions for each of us…
Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil (James 4:15-16).
It’s important to understand that we can’t walk successfully down the path of God’s specific will for our lives without walking honorably in God’s calling…
Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began (2 Timothy 1:9).
Let’s not expect success with God’s will without pursuing holiness, but as we grow in Christ, God speaks His will to us individually…
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2).
Once we understand the principle of, first, God’s calling, then God’s will, there are additional steps to follow on the path of God’s specific will for us. Read carefully…
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God (1 Corinthians 12:4-6, emphasis added, NASB1995).
Understand this progression: God’s calling to God’s specific will as expressed through our spiritual gifts used in ministries that become effective according to God’s power. Or calling to God’s specific will in our gifts and ministry, with effectiveness.
This is an easy path to find and follow God’s will. Start with calling and then earnestly seek God’s will by using the spiritual gifts given to us, understanding the ministry in which to use those gifts, and then praying for God to bring effectiveness.
Reflection
- Do you understand the general-to-specific drift in finding God’s will?
- Consider that we need to know our gifts before we can pray for a ministry, and once we know both our gifts and ministry, we can ask God for His blessing on His will for us.
This Interruption is Part One of “First God’s Calling then God’s Will.” In tomorrow’s Interruption #1903, Sarah (in the picture below) will introduce herself and give an illustration of finding God’s specific will.
