This expression “sweet will of God” is part of our hymn tradition. I think it speaks well of how we are to view the will of God. Eighteen (18) of the twenty-seven (27) books in the New Testament contain the expression “will of God.” In Ephesians this concept plays prominently in Paul’s theology. He sees himself as an apostle “through the will of God”(1:1). It is through the agency and means of God’s will that Paul becomes an apostle to the Gentiles.
In accordance with God’s good pleasure and will, we are adopted as his sons and daughters in Jesus Christ (1:5). Being part of God’s family is His ultimate will for our lives.
God has made known to us the mystery of his will (1:9). That mystery was purposed and revealed in Jesus Christ. The purpose is to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
We were predestined and chosen according to God’s plan who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will (1:11). This is all to God’s glory. As Christians our purpose and identity is shaped/ molded by being in conformity to the purpose of God’s will. Our life’s ambition is to know that will and reflect in our lives.
God’s will is starkly contrasted with the human will in Ephesians. Paul reminds his readers (and includes himself!) that “All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires (will) and thoughts”(2:3). But God in his rich mercy saved us from such a disobedient and sinful life.
Paul reminds us that we need to be wise, seeing how our days and opportunities are short, “therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is” (5:17). We need to be careful how we live, and make it our goal to daily seek the Lord’s will.
As Paul closes out his letter, he addresses slaves. He wants them to serve their masters with a whole and sincere heart, knowing that they are really slaves of Christ, “doing the will of God from your heart” (6:6). Even in difficult daily circumstances of doing our job we need to understand that our faithfulness on the job is motivated by the fact that we are really serving the Lord.
Sweet will of God…it is sweet to know that our identity, our purpose, our daily life, our salvation, and our work are all made possible “through the will of God!” Are we trying to understand what that will is daily and be guided by it?
In Christian love, Curtis
In accordance with God’s good pleasure and will, we are adopted as his sons and daughters in Jesus Christ (1:5). Being part of God’s family is His ultimate will for our lives.
God has made known to us the mystery of his will (1:9). That mystery was purposed and revealed in Jesus Christ. The purpose is to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
We were predestined and chosen according to God’s plan who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will (1:11). This is all to God’s glory. As Christians our purpose and identity is shaped/ molded by being in conformity to the purpose of God’s will. Our life’s ambition is to know that will and reflect in our lives.
God’s will is starkly contrasted with the human will in Ephesians. Paul reminds his readers (and includes himself!) that “All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires (will) and thoughts”(2:3). But God in his rich mercy saved us from such a disobedient and sinful life.
Paul reminds us that we need to be wise, seeing how our days and opportunities are short, “therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is” (5:17). We need to be careful how we live, and make it our goal to daily seek the Lord’s will.
As Paul closes out his letter, he addresses slaves. He wants them to serve their masters with a whole and sincere heart, knowing that they are really slaves of Christ, “doing the will of God from your heart” (6:6). Even in difficult daily circumstances of doing our job we need to understand that our faithfulness on the job is motivated by the fact that we are really serving the Lord.
Sweet will of God…it is sweet to know that our identity, our purpose, our daily life, our salvation, and our work are all made possible “through the will of God!” Are we trying to understand what that will is daily and be guided by it?
In Christian love, Curtis
