Dear Ones:
At the end of the day concerning the Kingdom of God, that which matters is the will of the King…the knowing and doing of the will of God. We are so apt to be distracted by a myriad of occupations and preoccupations without and within, that we can neglect, even forget, that Jesus came into this world to DO the will of His Father. He would say, “…my food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His word.” (Jn. 4:34) Then, in Hebrews 10:7, we find that the Lord Jesus said: “Then said I, ‘Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do Thy will, O God.'” For us to BE about our Father’s business, as Jesus was, we have need, “… to seek FIRST His kingdom, and His righteousness,” knowing that ” all these things will be added unto us.” (Matt. 6:33) What does this mean? We get the answer first in Jesus’ words and then in the Apostle Paul’s words by means of a prayer.
In preparing the disciples for His soon departure, the Lord Jesus, in John 14, speaks of the paramount importance of grasping something of the believer’s union with the Father, Christ, and the Spirit. He then proceeds to fruitfulness through prayer…and this again and again. But central to all is the call to “go forward,” to obey. “If ye love Me, keep my commandments…” (v.15) “He that hath My commandments, and keeps them, He it is that loves Me.” (v.21) And finally, “If a man love Me, he will keep My words…” (v.23) Faith and love are proven, not by the utterance of words, but by the DOING of the will of God.
The Spirit of God, through the Apostle Paul, gives us a wonderful prayer on this matter of knowing and doing the will of God. We need to read and meditate on the word of God to KNOW the will of God, but we need also to pray, so that it might be done in a manner worthy of Christ. Paul writes: “…We…do not cease to pray for you, ….that you might be FILLED with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you might walk worthy of Him…” (Col. 1:9-10) In this prayer, there is not only the appeal for the knowledge of the will of God, but also, for the “power” to DO the will of God. He continues: “…Strengthened with all might according to His glorious power, unto all patience (endurance) and longsuffering, with joyfulness…” (v.11) Not only does the Lord Jesus provide us with the written testament of His faithful word, His will, but also with the knowledge of the means by which that will of God is revealed to us, giving us the strength to DO.
Dear Father, in the face of all that would distract us from all that concerns our highest calling, enable us to be simple in our faith, and go forward. Strengthen us to be diligent in the seeking of Thy face, attentive and receptive to the leading of the Spirit of God, in order to DO Thy will. Bring us all into conformity with Thy perfect purpose, will, and way, for Thy honor and glory, for Thou art worthy. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Love, Dad