By Robby Emery

I have been an older brother for 27 years, a husband for 8 years, and have served as a student pastor for almost 9. And if there is anything I have learned it is that there is always someone to blame when things go awry. On countless occasions I would blame my younger brother for items that would be broken around the house. Whether he was the culprit or just aiding and abetting in the situation, when the hammer was falling I made sure it was the head of his nail that was going to get struck. And we may never truly know who’s at fault for the car running out of gas, but when the spouse is out of ear shot it is definitely their fault; they are the ones to blame. In knowing a bit about this generation-they are never to blame for anything. It is always wrapped in excuses and explanations of why they couldn’t get this done, why they can’t seem to stay connected to Christ.

But when something fantastic happens in their life it is because of their abilities…
The will of God at times can be a mystery, but why is that… Why does something that should be so obvious come across as mysterious and eluding?

The will of God is mapped out all throughout scripture, but yet we struggle. The way that we go about discerning God’s will for our lives and how we want God to give us Google Maps turn by turn directions for everything we should do in our lives. But God doesn’t work like that, does He? If only our iPhones had an application button for the will of God. Instead he gives us spiritual gifts. He wires us with passions to pursue. He burdens us with a desire to stamp out injustice. He places us in relationships that help us see where He is at work. God gives us everything we need, just not in the way that we may want it. We need to stop waiting for the “voice from heaven” because He has already spoken!

“Go to now, ye that say, to day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year; and buy and sell and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” James 4: 13-17 KJV

How can we ask God’s will to be done when we are not doing what he asks? What are the things that we should be doing that we are not doing? James 4:17 talks about that. The Bible says, anyone who knows the good that he or she should do but doesn’t do it, sins! Here’s a question I want you to ask yourselves: What are you not doing that God wants you to do? What are you not doing that you are supposed to do?

The will of God hinges on our ability to do what God has instructed us to do. The mystery of the will of God is the human component. If we know to do good and do it not, it is sin. If we are not doing what we know we are supposed to do, the will of God for our lives will for ever be an anomaly.
I understand that I am not supposed to do the things that are wrong; I understand that to be sin. I think the thing we all have a problem with is the good things. When we know to do good and we don’t do it, it is sin. WOW! I know I am not doing anything, but if I am not do anything good that is sin. The will of God is for me to do what is good!!!

What is good??? Someone once wrote a letter to the church and it stated the following:
“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.” I Thess 4:3-9 KJV

Fornication, lust, and defrauding of a brother of any matter are things we are to abstain from to line up with the will of God. God has not called us to be unclean but holy. Separated from sin and the world and fully dedicated to Him. We are clearly instructed not to be conformed to this world almost implying that there is a world we should be like. One scripture states that Jesus is not of this world and another states that we are to pray thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. So not only is the will of God for us not to be conformed to this world through fornication and youthful lusts, but we should be formed in the spiritual world heaven.

The will of God is to see what’s done in heaven happen in earth.

There are a variety of scriptures that illustrate heavenly actions. The prophet wrote that the angels cry Holy, Holy, Holy to the Lord Almighty. The overarching idea is that earth, you and I would be the “free will” conduit of worship. There are a few characteristics of heaven that I believe to be the will of God that is to be done in earth.

Heaven proclaims that upon arrival that there will be an absence of pain and suffering, in heaven the cry of need will be silenced because Christ has fulfilled all.

The will of God is for this to happen in earth. I believe we are to help those who are suffering, those who are in pain, and those who are in need.

The question, was once asked in prayer to God “why are there so many needs on earth? Why are there so many people who are hurting? Why are there so many people who are starving?” God then replied back “you tell me why?” If we are the hands and feet of Christ then we are to help those in need!

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not Ming that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 KJV

The will of God is that no one should perish…
No really it is not the will of God that any should perish. God doesn’t want us to perish in everyday tasks, and eternal salvation. But we all know that daily pursuits often end in failure, and history is an example of not everyone will attain eternal salvation. So has God’s will failed? Or is it the conduit of which it flows?

I would say it to be the latter of the two.The Pharisees had a great understanding when they said if we leave Jesus alone all men will believe on him. Thus the revelation if we will get out of the way of Christ men will believe. It is our antics, analytical perspectives, and misunderstood blogs that keep people from Christ. We are the vessel of which Christ chooses to use (by the way he doesn’t have to), the conduit that He flows through. And the reason why the will of God is not poured out is because we stop it up with junk. So many of us could use some spiritual “Drano” to unstop the clog so the spirit can flow. Don’t blame God if people perish, it’s our fault we didn’t get the message of salvation to them.

Finger pointing is not a new concept. We are quite willing to put the blame on someone else in order to save our neck. So many times we chalk up misfortunes, down settings, and mistakes to God. We use expressions like, “It must not be God’s will.”

And even salutations of gratitude are stamped to God’s will pamphlet. But really is God’s will or lack thereof really left up to our finite human deducting? I would hope not! It’s not predicated on our philosophies, but rather on our ability to act.

I would like to hope God’s will is always in motion barreling down any obstacles on its way!
You see where the problem lies is we consult God’s will after we sign the papers, exchange vows, or move out of state. And if the situation fails we blame the Almighty!

The will of God is not limited to one or two things but is very broad as if to cover everything. When we will follow the scriptures and allow them to govern our lives, the will of God will never cease to flow because we live an unclogged life.

Blame me if the will of God doesn’t happen in earth. Blame me if no one hears the gospel. Blame me if people are going hungry. Blame me if needs are not getting met. Blame me but don’t blame God.

From, “Michigan District News”/summer 2008/Page 2 & 8, by Robby Emery