The Will of The Lord

I love how the Bible always points to Jesus! Like a map with a key! I give praise because I have several Bibles displayed all over my home! One is the ancient one passed down from family member to family member with each name and birth date written in it. Safely stored in a cedar box, with a cross carved on the outside and a picture of Jesus on the inside. It is rarely opened as the pages have become brittle, and the binding is falling apart. The next is a Bible I received when I graduated from High School, not quite as ancient as the first but getting there. This one is a small study Bible, the pages are highlighted, underlined with notes written in the margin, it’s the one I write in. Recently, I was able to purchase what I call my all grown up big ole study Bible. It has all the answers, and holding it makes me look like I know what I am talking about. Instant street cred. Feeling like a grown up as I researched what Bible would be best for me, how to use it, is it true to translation. I even got to pick out the color - my favorite shade of green - and had it personally engraved with little gold lettering on the front “Pray to open.” A reminder to myself. I can’t take credit for coming up with that engraving on my own as I heard someone else has it on their Bible and I thought it was clever. Then there is the handy Bible-to-go, any Bible App for your phone or any internet search engine.  Praise God I have all these Bibles! Hallelujah that I can still talk about them and display them out for all to see! For right now, many of our brothers and sisters in Christ must hide their Bibles, being killed or imprisoned if caught with even a one. Oh, how precious is the word of God.

With the blessing of having so many Bibles all with slightly different translations from thee to thou, to you and your, it is easy to get lost in translation. Looking at this week’s reading of Eph 5:15-21, I became stuck on verse 17. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Humm. Do I know what the will of the Lord is? In times of troubles and crises, it is always said “If it’s God’s will” as if we aren’t sure what God’s will for us is. Sometimes, it’s almost as if we are giving God a pass or justification if it doesn’t seem to pan out in our favor. Yet do we know how it should have turned out if we don’t know God’s will for us. Here Paul says, “understand what the will of the Lord is.” I’ll be honest, when I read this, I was thrown to a halt. Paul writes as if he knows God’s will and tells us that we should understand it. I thought God’s will was kind of a mystery only God knows, and yes, there are many things God knows that I sure do not. Yet this is not the case with what Paul is saying.

So… I turned to my big ole adult Bible and looked at the notes, I go to Romans:12-2 and do not be conformed to this world, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. There it is again and this time I am to prove it, what is the will of God and will I prove it to others? What does He will me to do? On to Ephesians 5:10, learn what is pleasing to God. Colossians 1:9, praying to be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. Matt 13:22, 1st Peter 1:14, Gal 1:4 and Thessalonians 4:3 For this the will of God, your sanctification. God’s will for us is to be Holy, freed from sin, purified. Jesus. That is God’s will for us! It all points to Jesus. What peace, what relief I am given by God when I finally see that Jesus is the will of the Father. Jesus, dying on the cross, taking on the curse of sin so that we may be holy with God, for eternity. That is God’s will.

As I walk through this fallen world, with sin and the enemy surrounding me, I am not sure I will view the phrase “if it’s God’s will the same.” "IF" implies that we aren’t sure of what God’s will is. Yet we know God’s will is for us to be sanctified. How can we be holy in our trials, in our workdays, in every moment. We can only be holy by Jesus. So not if but may it be to God’s will when we go through darkness. May it be to God’s will when we watch our loved one suffering in illness. May it be to Jesus, as we hold each other’s hands in times of suffering and joy, singing hymns, praising God for Jesus. Oh how sweet, it all points to our King!

-Nikki Fiedler