Pursuing God's Will

"In all wisdom and insight [God] made known to us the mystery of His will" (Eph. 1:8-9).

Even if you haven't obtained academic degrees, you have wisdom that far surpasses the most educated unbeliever.

When God redeemed you, He not only forgave your trespasses and removed the guilt and penalty of sin, but He also gave you spiritual wisdom and insight-two essential elements for godly living. Together they speak of the ability to understand God's will and apply it to your life in practical ways.

As a believer you understand the most sublime truths of all. For example, you know that God created the world and controls the course of history. You know that mankind's reason for existence is to know and glorify Him. You have goals and priorities that transcend earthly circumstances and limitations.

Such wisdom and insight escapes unbelievers because they tend to view the things of God with disdain (1 Cor. 2:14). But you "have the mind of Christ" (v. 16). His Word reveals His will and His spirit gives you the desire and ability to understand and obey it.

Today is another opportunity to cultivate that desire through diligent prayer and Bible study. Let the psalmist's commitment be yours: "O how I love Thy law! It is my meditation all the day. Thy commandments make me wiser than my enemies. . . . I have more insight than all my teachers. . . . I understand more than the aged . . . I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Thy word" (Ps. 119:97-101).

Thank God for the wisdom and insight He gives you through His Word. If you have neglected the Word, ask His forgiveness and begin once again to refresh your spirit with its truths. Ask for wisdom to respond biblically to every situation you face today.

Many Christians think God's will is vague or hidden from them. But Scripture mentions several specific aspects of His will. Once you align yourself with those specifics, the Spirit will direct you in the other areas of your life.

List six elements of God's will from these passages: 2 Peter 3:9; Ephesians 5:17-18; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 1 Peter 2:13-15; 1 Peter 3:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Are you following God's will in those areas? If not, what steps can you take today to do so?

From the article, John MacArthur claims:

. . . but He also gave you spiritual wisdom and insight-two essential elements for godly living.

John makes it look as though the new convert in one fell swoop becomes a spiritual giant. This is not so. In fact, without a Scriptural personal discipling in the will, ways, and work of God, the babe in Christ will remain floundering, and be functionally indistinguishable from a well-meant but unsaved carnal moralist. Churches are full of both (See 1 Cor, 3:1-3).

John is a pretty good teacher, but he can (and does) err from time to time.

John is a pretty good teacher, but he can (and does) err from time to time.

Peter the Apostle is a pretty good teacher, but he could (and did) err from time to time:

But he [Jesus Christ]turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.--Matthew 16:23

Galatians 2:11-14

I don't like to argue with you, MM, but if you reread sentences three and four of the article it might come to you that John implies to the casual reader that spiritual wisdom and spiritual insight (discernment), together wit the ability to understand and apply God's will, are instantly conferred at the point of redemption, as an immediate, full-flowered benefit of it. That's what the verb tense says.

In fact, the whole context of the Bible indicates otherwise. These qualities are taught, come through years of instruction in and application of Biblical principles, and result from a learning process called discipleship.

Just because I pointed out this mis-step in what expectations one ought to present to the wanna-be or newly-born spiritual infant, does not mean that I do not appreciate your diligence in organizing the MacArthur meditations and getting them posted.

My initial criticism in this particular article was not meant to be taken as down-playing the general benefit that MacArthur's expository preaching produces. I only wish that the effect would be greater and, through discussion here, magnified and applied in our lives.

If an article draws a critical assessment, you don't need to apologize for John. He's able to do that for himself. Don't take such an observation personal, eh? All you have to do is post the material, not defend it.

Regarding expectations of entering the new life, what we ought to do is to make new believers aware that even before they commit themselves, they ought to do as Jesus said: to count the cost of the commitment to Him. That choice means a commitment to learning and understanding the Christian paradigm, in which spiritual wisdom, discernment, and ability to apply they do NOT have at the moment of new spiritual birth, any more than a newly born physical infant has in physical life.

In fact, the new believer needs close nurturing and supervision by a mature, trained believer. These babes have only the birth experience, and must be trained to accept the responsibility for these Christ-like traits, to grow in them, and evidence a true conversion from the world to Christ. Don't give the new babe the idea that he/she is already complete.

We have far too many "Christians" who have been led to believe that upon salvation, they have got it all, and there is nothing more to do than just enjoy the freedom from guilt, from the penalty of sinfulness, neglecting the duty of learning how to overpower its previous claim on their lives. This is where MacArthur has fallen short in this article, in advising the new--or yet infantile--professed believer that the burden of participating in discipling is on the horizon and coming on fast.

In many other matters, John gives very good and useful Christian counsel, especially in highlighting the difficulties of catholicism and denominationalism.

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