It seems that God has me on a word search. So far, I have done “new” and “be.” Today’s word is “will.” This word seems benign, small, and inconsequential. However, God is showing me quite the opposite. It seems there is tenacity, promise, and hope in this little 4-letter word! It seems that it speaks of God and His plans, promises, and intentions, as well as my choices in this life and how those 2 facets come together.
I decided to look up the word “will” in online dictionaries. At first glance, it is simply an “auxiliary verb,” a “helping verb” if you will. I “will go,” or I “will stay”…a future thing. Romans 10:9 says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:13 says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Acts 16:31 says, “They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved–you and your household.” Notice there is no wavering, in these verses! We do our part by declaring Jesus as Lord and by believing on Him, and He WILL (shall, is going to, set in stone, promised to) do His part! There is a staunchness in this that brings comfort to my heart. I don’t have to wonder because “will” is a very strong word! His Word says that all His promises are yea and amen!
But God kept showing me more meanings and more verses! So, I kept digging. What else does this little word have to say?
As it turns out, “will” can be a pretty powerful verb of its own accord! If you will something to happen, you set your jaw and walk forward, able to make a decision and take action to make it happen! James 4:15, “If the Lord wills, we will live to do this or that.” Revelation 22:17…”…Let him who is thirsty, come; let him who wills take the Water of Life freely.” Note that in both cases, decisive action has been taken. If the Lord wills us to do something, it is going to happen. If we will (decide) to take the life God has given us, it is going to happen!
“Will” can also be a pretty powerful little noun! We’ve all heard of folks with will power, an iron will, or being strong-willed. This is an intense desire to do, (or not do), achieve, or have something! Matthew 6:10, “your kingdom come; your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Romans 12:2, “Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is…His good, pleasing, and perfect will.” So, the “Will” of God is the ordered, orchestrated, predetermined plan of God for each and every one of us, in each and every situation.
But, here is what struck me as I dug around to better understand this “little” word! The number of times “will” is used in more than one of the above ways, in a single verse, really intrigued me and got me thinking! James 4:15 and Romans 12:2, above, are examples of this combination. Acts 18:20, “On taking leave of them, He said, ‘I will return to you, if God wills.” John 7:17, “Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God.” And on the Mount of Olives, when His crucifixion was close at hand, Jesus himself cried out in desperation to God (Luke 22:42), “Father if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Don’t you love these combinations? The power? The promises? The peace they pack?
So basically, if God determines for something to happen, it’s going to happen. But here’s the kicker, folks…we don’t get to hang out in our easy chairs, with foofy umbrella drinks in our hands, and pretend Jesus is a genie in a bottle who hands His will to us on a silver platter. Sometimes, God requires action, or belief, or trust, or humility, or obedience to Him, in order for His plans to be exacted in our lives! We sometimes have to choose to allow Him to work in our lives!
What will we do today? Will we choose to make our will conform to God’s will? Will we choose to lift up our cross and follow Jesus? Will we choose to strip ourselves of the sins and hindrances that entangle us and prevent God’s best in our lives? Or will we choose the Creator of the Universe, the Giver of Life, the Author and Perfecter of our faith?
Lord, Jesus, we want YOUR will to be done in our lives! Sometimes, this is a painful process as we allow you to circumcise our lives and hearts of the things that hinder and hurt us. Jesus, help us be mindful of you. Help us to want your will for our lives! Help us to cast down all that entangles us or raises itself up against the knowledge of you! Help our lives be reflections of you! In Jesus’ name, Amen!