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The Will of the Lord.
Understanding what the will of the Lord is (Eph. 5: 17).
pp. 59, 60
The daily walk of the Christian requires wisdom, and the A.V. says that we should
walk "circumspectly", whereas the R.V. reads "carefully" (5: 15). The apostle Paul adds
"Redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (16). It is suggested that this might be
translated "buying up the opportunities". The present day is full of dangers, seen and
unseen, and we know not for how long we shall be given opportunities to serve the Lord.
Hence, the urgency to redeem the time by continued, loyal service. We should not be
unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Each of us needs to ask the Lord to reveal His will to us. He takes a personal interest
in us, for He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world (1: 4), and He has
blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. We require wisdom so
that we do not "lean on our own understanding" (Prov. 3: 5) but we desire that He will
show us His will and purpose. He has planned and prepared the good works He wishes
us to do (Eph. 2: 10), so we can be confident that God's plan for each one includes
service to the Lord in this present day, using our God given ability.
While we are concerned to walk with the Lord and do His will, we should remember
that the will of God includes both things on earth and things in heaven. Much of Eph. 1:
is a description of the will of the Father.
(1)
We learn in Eph. 1: 5 that we have been predestinated unto the adoption of children
(sons) by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.
(2)
Then, in verse 9, He has made known unto us the mystery (secret) of His will according
to His good pleasure; and in the following verse, we learn that in the dispensation
of the fullness of times He will gather together in one all things in Christ, both
things in heaven and things on earth.
(3)
This leads to a statement that we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated
according to the purpose of Him Who worketh all things after the counsel (or
purpose) of His own will (11).
(4)
There is a sudden change as we come to Eph. 2: 1-3. Here, Paul takes us back to "in
time past". We once were children (sons) of disobedience and followed the desires
(literally, the will) of the flesh. Verse 4 commences, "But God"--what a big
change! For God is rich in mercy and has great love for us. He has quickened us,
raised us up, and made us sit together with Christ in heavenly places.
(5)
Paul was an apostle by the will of God. We are not apostles, but we can be the Lord's
servants, who do the will of God from the heart (Eph. 1: 6 and 6: 6).