Don’t you just hate making decisions? Especially the big ones where it feels like the choice you make will somehow directly alter the outcome of your life’s purpose?
C’mon, we’ve all been there: Do I wear the blue or gold shoes? Should I go to this college or that one? Should I date Him? Should I marry her? What if they’re not the “right” one? Where should we eat dinner? Do we get a dog or cat? Do we have kids or adopt? Do we homeschool? Do I buy the Ford, or the Chevy? Should I take this new job? Khakis or casual? Study or sleep? What the heck am I supposed to do with my life?! Arghh!!!
Then we go, “God, help me out what’s your will for my life?” and we wait. What if I were to tell you that God’s will for your life is, well, “whatever”.
Contrary to popular belief, the decisions we make aren’t always an end all be all; sometimes they are, but most of the time they’re just not. We end up getting so blinded by our destination that we completely forget the journey along the way.
The Bible speaks of this journey in Colossians 3:17 saying, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Don’t you just love that? “And whatever you do…” It’s such a rich statement. Whether it’s this school or that one. Whether it’s this house or that one. WHATEVER – – – YOU DO, do it with Jesus.
The truth is, discerning God’s will for your life is a tough task. The word speaks of 2 core wills of God (1) His sovereign will and (2) His moral will. An example of God’s sovereign will would be: God predetermined Jesus to come and rescue us before the world was even made; this cannot be changed. An example of God’s moral will would be: God desires for all people to be saved, yet some are not; this can be changed. This let’s us know that NOT EVERYTHING that happens in our lives are laid out beforehand and they can be changed based on the choices we make.
When you woke up this morning you chose to or not to brush your teeth. This week you chose to spend time with your family or on a project at home. Our lives are full of choices, and it’s not about making the “right” choice, as much as it is about making “a” choice.
As we seek God through the influence of others, and the leading of the Spirit, and prayer,
and His word we get a good idea on which route to take. But also, we’re flawed people; just ask my wife. Sometimes we think we hear God speaking to us and it’s really just the burrito from last night. Yet, even in our mistakes and miscues, our God redemptively walks beside of us whatever path we choose.
Our lives are not just these series of bread crumbs leading up to a certain golden throne, that if we stay along the path that’s outlined we will end up exactly where God intended us to be. This isn’t like the matrix, “Red Pill, or Blue Pill?” It’s not about getting a text message from Jesus, saying, “Do this, go here”. But it is about walking in His ways, doing life with Him and then you’ll find yourself in His will.
You can be in any occupation, any school, any family, doing any leisure activity and if you do it God’s way, you’ll be in His will. And that my friends is the most amazing feeling in this whole world.
Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” Just know this week, He’ll go with you, wherever it is you’re going, however it is your getting there, and whatever it is that you are doing if you’d just seek Him out.
Because He Lives, Pastor AB
