The will of God

Matthew 7 : 21 - 29

...he who does the will of my Father in heaven.....

This passage is rather frightening, if we just hear from it that we might not be 'saved'. But I think Jesus' purpose might not be simply to put guilty fear into our hearts as much as to passionately emphasize what he earnestly desires for us. He earnestly desires that we do his Father's will. Jesus modeled this for us, in very concrete ways. Each and every occasion of his words, works and wonders demonstrated God's heart for the 'lost' - whether this was due to physical, social, emotional or spiritual conditions. This is his Father's will that we are also to participate in.

The will of God has been a 'mystery' to many - is there a blueprint for example.....do we search for something that is 'written in stone'? Or is it more dynamic.......and involve a moment by moment relationship with the One who loves us? There is an overarching 'will' as lived out by Jesus but I believe in a dynamic interaction for the small steps we have to choose to participate in that overall will of God.

In choosing, we need to take care. Jesus warns about just 'doing' (even if it is prophesy, driving out demons, and other 'mighty works') without carefully listening for God's moment to moment guidance. Perhaps the timing is wrong. Perhaps the works are done in a self-righteous manner. Perhaps the works bring self-glory rather than glory to God. Indeed, these would never be within the will of the Father.

I have been trying to discern a number of things lately. A mid-life restlessness. Change.....once feared is now more welcome, although the way seems unclear. The possible choices would all be within the will of God.......of his heart as demonstrated by Jesus. But the concrete choices are all different......I have to 'listen' carefully.........and ask myself the 'motive' and 'meaning' questions. Timing, focus on God rather than self, humble dependence on God......these are important markers along the way.