1 Peter 4:1–7 ‘As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.’ (v2)
What is God’s will? A question that can easily be misunderstood. For example, ‘Deus vult’ (‘God wills it’) was first chanted during the First Crusade in 1096 as a rallying cry, but on reflection the Crusades do not present a positive expression of God’s will.*
Clearly the entire Bible sets out what pleases God, addressing both unseen attitudes and visible actions. However, individual readers must consider prayerfully how best they are to live out their understanding.
One reason we’re encouraged to gather regularly as Christians is so that we might engage in conversations about how best to serve God through our lives in this world (Heb. 10:24–25).
We experience great pressure from others about what our Christian discipleship is meant to look like. Yielding to such pressures may make us feel uncomfortable, for they fail to reflect our own certainties and doubts.
There’s no practical handbook on how to live as a disciple. As society changes, reflecting God’s intentions in our context is also subject to constant review and adjustments. Social history reveals significant changes in human behaviour within our own lifetimes.
The Christian life is never static, forged into final form with nothing more demanded than obedient repetition. Rather, it’s a dynamic, organic life source offering us hope within the overwhelming and changing demands life places upon us.
The Creator has not stopped creating and invites us to be His co-creators on earth with him. I’m reminded of Youth for Christ’s motto, ‘Geared to the times, anchored to the Rock’.
A Prayer To Make:
‘Lord, help me carefully to read Scripture and learn how best to express its truth in the context in which I live. Amen.’
An Action To Take:
Discipleship is a process of maturing spiritually; it is the journey of spiritual formation. Where are you on your journey, and how is God guiding you?
Scripture To Consider:
Job 38; Psa. 135:3–7; 1 Cor. 8:5–13; Heb. 2:1– 4,14–18
