How can we know what God's perfect will is for us? How can we tell the difference between that and what his permissible will is for us? What does the bible say about it?
The first thing we need to know of course is, in order to be in God's perfect will, we must be born again. We must have a relationship with our Father.
And then Romans 12:2 says: Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God and well-pleasing a perfect.
To be in his perfect will is to have a relationship with him and to have a relationship with him means that we must daily be in his word to be able to discern what his will is. It also means praying that he will guide us in all decisions of our lives.
When we make the wrong decision which is out of his will, that does not mean that God suddenly changes his mind and says it is ok that we have done something that we shouldn't have done.
Malachi 3:6 For I am the Lord, and I do not change.
Numbers 23:19 God is not a man that he should lie or the son of man that he should change his mind.
When we disobey, there are consequences. Just as we impose consequences on a child that disobeys, we must pay the consequences for our actions. However, he will let us have our way not because he wants to punish us but there are things that we will go through that we do not like. And the purpose of that is not to sit on this throne in heaven and crack the proverbial whip at us to be mean. Rather it is to let us realize that we made a mistake and bring us back to him. He allows it to then accomplish his perfect will in our lives.
And he uses our disobedience to work all things to the good of those that love him and are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28. Not to crack that whip at us, but because he loves us and wants his best for us even though at times it may seem like he is doing just that.
So the difference in his perfect and permissive will is simple. If we choose to hear and obey his voice, be in his word and pray, we can be in his perfect will. If we ignore him and go about our own way, we miss it. Going to church but living as the world does, does not make us a Christian. Sometime prior to his death in 1982, Christian songwriter/composer Keith Green once sang in one of his songs that going to church on Sunday does not make a Christian just as going to Mcdonalds does not make someone a hamburger. It is not enough to just go to church but then living like the world the rest of the time.
It requires so much more. It requires knowing God's word. Prayer. Spending time with him. Hearing his voice. It requires obedience. It requires a commitment to him in all things.
How do we hear God's voice? Come back tomorrow for more on that question.
Thanks for your visit today Friends! Please come back tomorrow and may God bless you this Lord's Day!
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