Bible Reading: 1 Peter 4:1-6
“Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.” (1 Peter 4:1)
If you and I are Christians, now what? What are we to pursue for the rest of our lives? What should we fill our time with as we await our heavenly home?
Christianity is not just about waiting for heaven. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” God has a plan for every one of our lives. God had a plan from eternity that He would save us, redeem our lives and turn our lives from sins and human passions to live in obedience and submission to His will in freedom and joy.
So now that we have suffered with Christ in the flesh, in other words, we have been justified and cleansed by Christ’s death on the cross and no longer a slave to sin, what must we do? What is God’s will now?
To answer that question, what is God’s will for eternity?
John 17:3 says, “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
God’s greatest will for our eternal lives is that we may know Him. His will is that we may eternally grow to savour the riches and beauty and glory of Himself. This means to eternally grow in a relationship with our God, growing in His love and love for Him, growing in joy and satisfaction in Him, and ultimately ending in praise and eternal glory for God.
Now, if we have been redeemed and justified by Christ’s blood, eternal life does not start in heaven; it starts now. We are spiritually alive, and though our earthly bodies will pass away, our souls have been revived and will be with God forever. This means we can start to know God now.
How do we know God? By listening to His Word and obeying Him. When we obey God, we will grow to know who He is as a person. We will grow to savour His Holiness, His love and grace, and His exceeding glory.
So, when asked, “what is God’s will for today?”, the answer is joyful and simple obedience to whatever God calls you to obey today. It’s the same for the little things and the big things. From things like reading God’s Word every day, loving your family, obeying your parents, our fight against sin to things like what you’re going to do after school and the places God calls you to minister and serve, all must be done in simple obedience to God’s Words.
As you grow in obedience, we will grow in knowing God. We will grow in tasting and seeing the glorious grace God has planned to reveal to us, and ultimately, we will grow to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
If you want to know God’s will, it is simple obedience to His Word today. Where is He speaking to you?
Knowing God and obeying God is all you will ever need. As Psalm 34:9 says, “Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!”.
Lord, thank You that You came so that we may know Your will. Eternal life is to know You. Please help me to know You, the triune God. Help me obey You and Your Word. And through that, let me grow in knowing who You are and grow in glorifying and enjoying You. Thank You for the spiritual life there is in You. Praise be to Your name. In Jesus’ name, amen.
