of God! How unsearchable are His judgements, and His ways past finding out. For
who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been His counseller?"
I have heard the argument given by some that if we don't know the mind of God then we
can't know what He wants. Knowing the mind of God, what He thinks, and knowing
what He wants are two entirely separate things! The first part of this argument is true,
we don't know the mind of God (except what He has chosen to share with us). It also
tells us more in Isaiah.
Isaiah 55:8 & 9 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways
My ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are
My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."
However, just because we don't know the thoughts of God, we do know what He wants,
because He has flat out told us! It's just that simple...read the Bible, in it you will see
what the Lord wants. He tells us what He wants and thinks about many things;
abortion, homosexuality, capital punishment, His Word, the church, the Jews, future
events, how we are to live and conduct ourselves in this world. The problem arises when
what God has said doesn't line up with what we want, that's when you hear this feeble
argument that we can't know what God wants in situations. Read your Bible, what
He wants us to know is there in black and white.
Here's just a few things that God wants.
1. He wants all to be saved.
Isaiah 45:22 "Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am
God, and there is none else."
2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count
slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish,
but that all should come to repentance."
God's judgement is on hold for this sinful world, He wants all to be saved, so He waits.
Never fall into the mistake of saying that God sends people to hell, He does not! He
has given mankind the choice...accept His free gift of salvation or reject it! Hebrews
2:3 says, "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation:" Where you end
up for eternity is entirely on your shoulders. I've said this before, don't blame God
for your decisions!
John 3:16 & 17 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For
God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world
through Him might be saved."
2. He wants unity among His children.
1 Corinthians 1:10 "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you;
but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement."
Romans 12:16a "Be of the same mind one toward another."
I want you to notice the people who are to be of one mind are the brethren, Christians.
We are not to have the same mind as the unsaved. A child of God and an unsaved
person will not have the same mind with regard to spiritual things. Amos 3:3 states,
"Can two walk together except they be agreed?" Our unity is to be lined up with
other believers who are following the Word of God and striving to live for the Lord.
If you find yourself agreeing with the unsaved, you had better get into your Bible and
get your mind fixed on Christ. There is a simple solution to spiritual unity; fix your
mind on Christ and the unity will follow.
Philippians 2:2 "Fulfil ye My joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love,
being of one accord, of one mind."
3. He wants personal fellowship with His children.
Hebrews 4:16 "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we
may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
I John 3:24 "And he that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He
in him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath
given us."
I recently read a statement which said, "Salvation is being in the family of God, but
fellowship is being in a relationship with God. Some people miss out on a tremendous
blessing, they are saved, but have no personal fellowship with their heavenly Father!
Fellowship with Almighty God must be on His terms, not ours. He wants devotion,
faithfulness, separation from the world...in other words, He wants a heart that is
wholly His. Not to spend time getting to know God in a personal intimate way, not
only is a slight against Him, but you are depriving yourself the blessing of knowing
your Father. Don't ignore His call to fellowship.
1 Corinthians 1:9 "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto fellowship
of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."
4. He wants us to live holy.
1 Peter 1:15 & 16 "But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in
all manner of conversation (living) Because it is written, Be ye holy: for I am
holy."
Romans 12:1 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that
ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is
your reasonable service."
To please God and to fellowship with Him we must be holy in "all manner of
conversation," or living. This is our thoughts, speech, life style, and motives.
This is to be our "reasonable service!" When it comes to living a holy, separated
life, people tend to give up. The problem they are having is that they are trying
to be holy in their own strength...and that is impossible. God alone give us the
power to live a holy life. When we give back to God the life that was purchased
by the blood of His dear Son, we become a living sacrifice to God, and He is
pleased. Our desire should be to be like Him.
Hebrews 12:14 "Follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no
man shall see the Lord:"
Look with me at this verse in Philippians 2:5, "Let this mind be in you, which
was also in Christ Jesus:" This is talking about the mindset of Jesus. What was
His mindset? To do His Fathers will; to point all men to God; a servants heart;
love and compassion. We can have the mindset of Christ, in fact we are commanded
too; this will be well pleasing to God.
Knowing what God wants of us is easy, He put it all down on paper so we could
read it. Get into the Bible, study and then obey...it's really just that simple!
May the mind of Christ my Savior,
Live in my from day to day;
By His love and power controlling
All I do and say.
May the Word of Christ dwell richly,
In my heart from hour to hour,
So that all may see I triumph
Only through His power.
May the love of Jesus fill me,
As the waters fill the sea;
Him exalting, self abasing,
This is victory.
May His beauty rest upon me
As I seek the lost to win,
And may they forget the channel,
Seeing only Him.
Katie Barclay Wilkinson
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