On the Will of the Father
Maia commented on Matthew 7:21-23:
A big part of the above scripture is - whoever does the Will of the Father. What is the Will of God? Is it knowing the oneness, and also certain actions? It's a bit confusing. I don't know if the above scripture is ONLY talking about the understanding of being one.
Scripture says things like - it is His will all should be saved, sanctified and free from sexual immorality (1 Thessalonians 4:3) as well as "to do good" It also says:
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will..." (Romans 12). So how do we discover God's will, and does it get specific within our own lives? What are your thoughts?
_______________________________________
Maia,
Thanks for the softball questions. No, seriously, these are the questions every Christian, Jew, Muslim, Hindu, and what have you has in mind as he or she listens to the pastor drone on or as they kneel in prayer. We all monitor the leader's words and the impressions of our hearts for some inkling of answer to these questions. How are we to live? Just give me that, thank you, and I will go on my merry way following it faithfully.
Of course, the will of God is to do the works of God. It isn't a matter of, "the guy with the brown eyes, or the guy with the blue?" It is whatever we do, we do with faith. Every moment is endless opportunities to launch into, good things that can be done. God wants all of them, whichever one you choose, done relying on Him. If indeed we branch again from our past, we will get to do them all.
You mention Romans 12, and I especially like Vic Alexander's understanding of it. I wish I could understand what he said. His notes, especially around verse 8, are, um, not very clear. And some of the asterisks lead to no notes. That is one of the fun things about his version: you get to take your best guess and work it out yourself. Hey, you've got God helping you.
Romans 12 Alexander, most notes incorporated (hopefully accurately), with minor editing:
1. Pray I thus from you, my brothers, by the mercies of God, that you submit your bodies a living, holy, and acceptable sacrifice to God, through wholesome ministry.
2. And do not resemble these people here, except become transformed through the renewal of your vision, and be discerning as to what is good, acceptable, and mature according to God's will.
3. I say then through the blessings that are given me for all of you, do not look for anything outside of what you are supposed to look for, except look inside yourselves, every human being according to the measure of faith that which God doled out to them.
4. For just as in one body we have many members, and all members do not have one function,
5. Thus we also who are many, are one body in Christ, each one of us then are members of each other.
6. Except we have different endowments, according to the blessings that are given us, there is prophesy as the yardstick of faith.
7. And there are those who serve through ministry. And there are those that teach through their erudition.
8. And there are those that love through loving, and the giver who gives through (loving) genuinely, and the helper who raises head by endeavoring, and the merciful, who performs acts of compassion through (loving) joyfully,
9. And let not your love be treacherous, except despise evil-doing and embrace goodness.
10. Be kind to your brethren, and love one another. Be the first to respect each other.
11. Be strivers and not irresponsible. Be fervent in spirit. Be workers for your Master.
12. Rejoice in your hope. Anticipate your sufferings. Have faith in your prayer.*
13. Associate yourself with the need of the saints. Be kind to strangers.
14. Bless your rejections. Bless and do not curse.
15. Be happy with those who are happy. And cry with those who cry.
16. And whatever you recommend for yourselves, do also for your brethren. And do not conceive great opinions, except embrace those of compassion. And do not be set in your own opinion.
17. And do not repay evil with evil. Except exhaust every opportunity to do good deeds before humanity.
18. And if possible for you, make peace with every human being.
19. And do not love yourselves dearly, except hold back your anger. For it is written in Scriptures,
"If you do not take justice into your own hands,* I will do justice unto you"--thus says God.
20. And if your enemy hungers, feed him, and if he thirsts, give him water. And if you do these things, embers of fire you will bury on his skull.
21. Do not conquer evil by yourselves, except conquer evil by good deeds.
A big part of the above scripture is - whoever does the Will of the Father. What is the Will of God? Is it knowing the oneness, and also certain actions? It's a bit confusing. I don't know if the above scripture is ONLY talking about the understanding of being one.
Scripture says things like - it is His will all should be saved, sanctified and free from sexual immorality (1 Thessalonians 4:3) as well as "to do good" It also says:
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will..." (Romans 12). So how do we discover God's will, and does it get specific within our own lives? What are your thoughts?
_______________________________________
Maia,
Thanks for the softball questions. No, seriously, these are the questions every Christian, Jew, Muslim, Hindu, and what have you has in mind as he or she listens to the pastor drone on or as they kneel in prayer. We all monitor the leader's words and the impressions of our hearts for some inkling of answer to these questions. How are we to live? Just give me that, thank you, and I will go on my merry way following it faithfully.
Of course, the will of God is to do the works of God. It isn't a matter of, "the guy with the brown eyes, or the guy with the blue?" It is whatever we do, we do with faith. Every moment is endless opportunities to launch into, good things that can be done. God wants all of them, whichever one you choose, done relying on Him. If indeed we branch again from our past, we will get to do them all.
You mention Romans 12, and I especially like Vic Alexander's understanding of it. I wish I could understand what he said. His notes, especially around verse 8, are, um, not very clear. And some of the asterisks lead to no notes. That is one of the fun things about his version: you get to take your best guess and work it out yourself. Hey, you've got God helping you.
Romans 12 Alexander, most notes incorporated (hopefully accurately), with minor editing:
1. Pray I thus from you, my brothers, by the mercies of God, that you submit your bodies a living, holy, and acceptable sacrifice to God, through wholesome ministry.
2. And do not resemble these people here, except become transformed through the renewal of your vision, and be discerning as to what is good, acceptable, and mature according to God's will.
3. I say then through the blessings that are given me for all of you, do not look for anything outside of what you are supposed to look for, except look inside yourselves, every human being according to the measure of faith that which God doled out to them.
4. For just as in one body we have many members, and all members do not have one function,
5. Thus we also who are many, are one body in Christ, each one of us then are members of each other.
6. Except we have different endowments, according to the blessings that are given us, there is prophesy as the yardstick of faith.
7. And there are those who serve through ministry. And there are those that teach through their erudition.
8. And there are those that love through loving, and the giver who gives through (loving) genuinely, and the helper who raises head by endeavoring, and the merciful, who performs acts of compassion through (loving) joyfully,
9. And let not your love be treacherous, except despise evil-doing and embrace goodness.
10. Be kind to your brethren, and love one another. Be the first to respect each other.
11. Be strivers and not irresponsible. Be fervent in spirit. Be workers for your Master.
12. Rejoice in your hope. Anticipate your sufferings. Have faith in your prayer.*
13. Associate yourself with the need of the saints. Be kind to strangers.
14. Bless your rejections. Bless and do not curse.
15. Be happy with those who are happy. And cry with those who cry.
16. And whatever you recommend for yourselves, do also for your brethren. And do not conceive great opinions, except embrace those of compassion. And do not be set in your own opinion.
17. And do not repay evil with evil. Except exhaust every opportunity to do good deeds before humanity.
18. And if possible for you, make peace with every human being.
19. And do not love yourselves dearly, except hold back your anger. For it is written in Scriptures,
"If you do not take justice into your own hands,* I will do justice unto you"--thus says God.
20. And if your enemy hungers, feed him, and if he thirsts, give him water. And if you do these things, embers of fire you will bury on his skull.
21. Do not conquer evil by yourselves, except conquer evil by good deeds.
posted by Daniel C. Branham-Steele at
6:18 PM
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