heavenly places; our hope is to be manifested with Him in glory. So we could go on.

But all begins with the cross: with the sacrifice of Christ. Surely, in the light of such

love, of such compassions, it is but our reasonable, logical service, to yield our bodies

living sacrifices, separated, well pleasing unto God, being not conformed to this age, but

being transformed by the renewing of the mind to our assessing what is the good, and

well pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Before we progress further in our studies on the will of God, it will be well for us to

consider the two main words which are translated `will'. For the sake of simplicity we

refer only to the verbs at this point:  thelo desire, wish;  boulomai take counsel,

determine, purpose.  There is a marked degree of intensity between saying "I wished I

could . . . . ." and "I am determined to . . . . .", or "I purpose to . . . . .". The difference is

illustrated clearly in Mark 15: 7-15.  In the questions put by Pilate to the people in

verses 9 and 12, he uses the weaker word: "Do you wish me to release unto you the King

of the Jews?" But in recording Pilate's action in verse 15, Mark uses the stronger word:

"And so Pilate determined (or purposing) to content the people, released Barabbas . . .".

Perhaps we could say thelo is a neutral word, while boulomai is active. After the meeting

of the Sanhedrin mentioned in John 11:, we read (verse 53): "Then from that day forth

they took counsel together for to put Him to death". The verb `took counsel together'

(bouleuomai) has the same root as boulomai. It is clear they were determined to put

Christ to death. A further instance of the strength of the second group of words is to be

found in Acts 15: 37: "Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was

Mark . . . . . And (39) the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed

asunder one from the other . . . . .". Barnabas had made up his mind, not even a rift

between himself and his friend Paul would turn him from his purpose.

It is, perhaps, rather surprising to find how seldom boulomai and its associated words

are used in connection with the sovereign God. These words are used in the N.T.

between 50 and 60 times; but only on 10 occasions in reference to God Himself. (These

ten references are Acts 2: 23; 13: 36; 20: 27; Rom. 9: 19; I Cor. 12: 11; Eph. 1: 11;

Heb. 6: 17; James 1: 18; II Pet. 3: 9; and Luke 22: 42, in the Lord's Prayer in

Gethsemane.) In the latter case The Companion Bible suggests: "If it be Thine intention

remove this cup from Me". Possibly we might paraphrase it thus: "If it is in accord with

Thy purpose". It is instructive to look a little more closely into the rest of this verse: "If

it is in accord with Thy purpose remove this cup from Me; nevertheless not My wish (or

`desire'), but Thine be done". This verse establishes the relationship between the Father

and the Son, between God and His Servant, and between us who are `in the Son' and our

God and Father. God's purpose must be carried out, our wishes and desires must be

subordinate to His purpose. Whether or not we pray that His will may be done, His

purpose will be fulfilled; but we certainly should pray that His wishes are fulfilled on