2 Peter 3:9 NIV – True Essence of God’s Divine Purpose
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
This verse captures the true essence of God’s will. He doesn’t want any of us to lose our souls. What He wants is for us to come to repentance and be saved in the kingdom of God.
While He does this, He is patient with us and allows us time to come to know and serve Him.
1 Timothy 2:4 NIV – The Will of God
“Who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
It’s the will of God that each individual has an opportunity to learn the truth of who He is. This is why we were given the gospel commission in Matthew 28:18-20.
Those who know the truth must share it with others so that they too may learn about the good news of salvation.
1 Thessalonians 4:3 NIV – God’s Providence that We are Sanctified
“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;”
The Lord doesn’t want us to live immoral lives. Even though we live in a sinful world He wants us to be righteous. After Adam and Eve sinned in Eden God set the plan of salvation in place so that we may be sanctified through the shed blood of Christ.
In John 17 Jesus prayed for His disciples and all believers. In verse seventeen He asked His Father to sanctify us. He prayed, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth”.
Isaiah 41:10 NIV – God Promised to Help Us
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
The Lord does not intend for us to be alone. In the Garden, He gave Adam a companion and He often visited them and commune with them. He still showed genuine interest in Adam and Eve even after they ate the forbidden fruit.
Even in our lowest or worst moments, the Lord is with us. He promises that we will be helped, strengthened, and upheld by His righteous right hand.
Romans 6:23 NIV – God’s gift is eternal life
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Sin has been a part of human nature since the fall in Eden and death is the consequence of sin. However, God does not want us to be trapped in sin forever. Through the gift of Jesus Christ His son, we all have access to eternal life.
God offered this gift so that you and I will not have to die eternal deaths. On Christ’s second return, the dead in Christ will rise at the sound of the first trumpet, claiming victory over death and the grave.
John 6:38-40 NIV – Jesus’ example of following God’s will
“For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. ³⁹And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. ⁴⁰For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
This scripture passage not only presents Jesus’ example of following God’s will but also tells us what it is. God’s plan is to grant eternal life to all who believe in Jesus.
Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV : Following God’s Purpose
“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, ²¹equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
This text provides hope for all of us. God not only wants us to know and follow His will but He made provision for us to be equipped with everything good to carry it out.
In the book of Romans 8:27, we are also told that the Holy Spirit plays an active role in helping us with the will of the Lord. It states, “And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God”.
Psalm 37:4 NIV – God will give us what we want
“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
If we take delight in the Lord, He will grant us our heart’s desires. These desires, however, have to be in line with Godliness and the specific purpose that the Lord has planned out for us.
Matthew 7:21 NIV – It is God’s direction for us to spread His Gospel
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
True followers of Christ are obedient to His command. In Matthew 28:18-20 He gave us a great mission to go and teach all nations. It is the will of our heavenly Father for us to spread the good news of salvation.
If we fail to do this, we fail to obey His will and consequently will fail to reap our heavenly reward.
Matthew 12:50 NIV – We are God’s family when we follow His Plan
“For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
This text is saying that knowing the will of God is not enough for us to be recognized as children of God. When we know the will of the Father, we then have to act upon it. Only when we know God’s will and follow it, will Jesus claim us as His brothers, sisters, and fellow co-laborers.
Matthew 7:7 NIV – Search for God’s Guidance
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ⁸For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
The first step in knowing God’s will for your life is to diligently search for it. With a sincere heart ask for God’s guidance so that you will be able to discern His purpose for you.
This text is a reminder for us to ask, seek, and knock in order to know God’s will for our lives. We are promised that when we ask, we will receive and when we seek, we will find.
Romans 12:1,2 NIV – Live your life for God
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ²Do not conform 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.”
It is our duty to ensure that our bodies and minds are treated based on God’s requirements. Our bodies are to be cared for diligently and our minds are to be focused on heavenly things.
According to the word of God, you are to live a holy life and resist sinful things in this world by the renewal of your mind. Only then will you be able to test and discern the good, acceptable, and perfect will of the Lord.
Philippians 2:5,13 NIV – Carry out His Plan
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: ¹³for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”
Jesus was very compassionate in His dealings with others while He was here on earth. He healed the sick, cleansed the leper, cast out demons, fed the hungry, and taught with authority and sincerity of spirit.
The King James Version of verse five states, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus”.
In having the mind of Jesus, we should think and act as He would when we relate to others. We should treat everyone we come in contact with in a neighborly manner and express the same steadfast love that Jesus displayed.
When we think and act with the mind of Jesus, we allow ourselves to be vessels for the Lord to carry out His will.
Micah 6:8 NIV – Love Others
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
As children of light our purpose is to share the love of God with others. We have to be just, loving, and merciful to others even when we think they do not deserve our mercy.
The parable of the good Samaritan is a great illustration of why we should treat others with mercy. We have to be merciful if we are truly to follow God’s purpose.
The Lord constantly forgives us and extends mercy and grace towards us even when we don’t deserve it.
That’s why Galatians 6:9 encourages us saying, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up”.
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV – God has Plans for Us
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
God cares for the lilies of the field and the birds of the air and He cares so much more for each of us. He wants nothing more than for us to prosper and have a future full of hope.
Sometimes we have personal plans that are not aligned with God’s plan for our lives. These plans may bring us more harm than good and that’s why it’s important for us to understand and accept the plans that were laid out for us since the beginning of time.
Proverbs 19:21 NIV – Follow His Purpose
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
The English Standard Version put this text this way, “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”
Trusting in the Lord wholeheartedly and acknowledging Him will ensure that we not only make the right choices but also understand and follow His purpose.
That is why the book of Proverbs says this will result in Him directing our path.
Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight”.
When we trust God and submit to Him, He will give us understanding and we will be better able to have His purpose fulfilled in our lives.
Psalm 143:10 NIV – Be Open to Learn God’s Design
“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground”
This psalm is a beautiful prayer to say when you wish to know God’s plan for your life.
When the psalmist said this prayer, He not only asked the Lord to teach him to do His will but asked that he be led by the Spirit. Sometimes we have an understanding of our purpose but we are unsure of what to do to fulfill it.
We just need to pray that the Spirit will lead us.
Jesus promised that He will give us the Comforter and He will lead us into all truth. John 14:16-17 states,
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; ¹⁷Even the Spirit of truth…”
Claim this promise and allow the Spirit to lead you as you walk in your purpose and follow the will of God.
Conclusion
I hope you will better understand, the will of God according to the Bible and come to know God’s will for your life. I pray you will: keep trusting in the Lord with all your heart, let the mind of Christ be in you, and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you.