When I cook dinner for our family, I have to be very intentional. What I mean by this is that I have to first decide what I am going to prepare, then I have to go to the store and buy it. I also need to know how many are going to be home for dinner. Then I have to prepare the food in a timely manner in order to have it ready by dinner time. So, to prepare dinner for my family, it takes planning, action, money, time, and attention. It doesn’t just happen. I love to cook for my family but I have to admit, sometimes, it gets old. I get tired and just don’t feel like cooking, but overall, I enjoy the role God has given me.
Recently, as I was reading in Matthew, I was studying the verses in Matthew 7:21-23, “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. Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you, Away from me, you evil doers!'”
This passage emphasizes to me how extremely important it is to seek and do God’s Will. It is very much like cooking dinner for my family….it doesn’t just happen! I have to be intentional. I can’t just think dinner into being on the table. I can’t just *poof* and have the groceries in our home. Often times I feel we treat God’s will for our lives as if ….we don’t have to do anything….that it just happens and we fall into it.
Just like dinner doesn’t just *poof* get put on our particular table…neither does God’s will. We have to seek, submit and do GOD’S WILL. We have to want it for our lives.
God’s will prevails whether we choose to participate or not. But understand, those who sit at God’s table in heaven, the place He has gone to prepare for us (John 14:3, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”), it is clear in Matthew….those same people must seek and do His will. I have been reading the Bible for a very long time so it would be easy for me to glaze over and read scripture like the above in Matthew and not be prompted to stop and ask myself, am I living God’s will for my life? Am I seeking it daily? I certainly don’t want to be lukewarm? Revelation 3:16, “So because you are lukewarm–neither hot nor cold–I will spit you out of my mouth.”
We serve a merciful, forgiving God, but His word is crystal clear about how we should live and what we should be doing. We should be “preparing a meal,” a “hot meal.” In other words, we should be doing His will, not ours! Romans 12:2, “Do 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.”
Be encouraged. God has a good, perfect and pleasing will for our lives. His desire is for us to fulfill it. Renew your mind today. Examine whether or not you are conforming to the pattern of this world. I have to be honest. It is a daily turning for me–being intentional about turning from the world and turning to God. He is faithful. He knows the “motives and desires of our hearts”. He will renew the mind of the seeking heart that desires to please HIM. Desire Him and His will today!