The following thoughts are largely shaped by what John Stott writes about guidance in his book The Contemporary Christian.
There is a distinction that needs to be drawn between God’s general will and his particular will. ‘God’s general will is so called because it is his will for the generality of his people; it is the same for all of us in all places at all times. God’s particular will is so called, however, because it is his will for particular people at particular places and times’ (Stott). His general will for each of his people is that we would be conformed into the likeness of his Son (Romans 8:29). His particular will concerns such things as the jobs we do, whether we marry or not. and where we might live. Obviously God’s particular will differs for each of us.
While God’s general will is clearly revealed in Scripture the message of the Bible does not address his particular will for us. Athough ‘I cannot deny that occasionally God seems to have guided individuals through a specific verse wrenched out of its context. But I must add that he has done it only in condescension to our weakness’ (Stott).
While the Bible may not have been written to address the issue of God’s particular will for us it does give us principles that are to inform our decisions. Read the Bible and we will see that we are to consider the impact of our decisions on others. Read the Bible and we will see that it is wrong for a Christian to marry someone who is not a believer (2 Cor. 6:14). Read the Bible and we see that we are not to choose our career based simply on what income it offers (1 Tim. 6:10).
Stott gives the following guidelines to help us discover God’s particular will for our lives:
1. Yield. ‘An unsurrendered will is the most serious of all obstacles to the discovery of God’s will. If God does not reveal his truth to those who are not willing to believe it, neither does he reveal his will to those unwilling to do it’ (Stott). He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way (Psalm 25:9).
2. Pray. ‘A vague surrender is not enough; sustained, expectant prayer is also necessary . . . He does not disclose his will to us unless we really want to know it and express our desire in our prayers’ (Stott).
3. Talk. We don’t need to make our decisions on our own. We should seek the advice of mature Christian people as we grapple with the choices we face. ‘. . . wisdom is found in those who take advice’ (Proverbs 13:10).
4. Think. Weigh up the pros and cons. Do this in the light of biblical priorities. Don’t just depend on irrational hunches!
5. Wait. ‘So then, if we have to make a decision by a certain deadline, we must make it. But if not, and the way forward is still uncertain, it is wiser to wait . . . In my experience, more mistakes are made by precipitate action than by procrastination’ (Stott).
There is a distinction that needs to be drawn between God’s general will and his particular will. ‘God’s general will is so called because it is his will for the generality of his people; it is the same for all of us in all places at all times. God’s particular will is so called, however, because it is his will for particular people at particular places and times’ (Stott). His general will for each of his people is that we would be conformed into the likeness of his Son (Romans 8:29). His particular will concerns such things as the jobs we do, whether we marry or not. and where we might live. Obviously God’s particular will differs for each of us.
While God’s general will is clearly revealed in Scripture the message of the Bible does not address his particular will for us. Athough ‘I cannot deny that occasionally God seems to have guided individuals through a specific verse wrenched out of its context. But I must add that he has done it only in condescension to our weakness’ (Stott).
While the Bible may not have been written to address the issue of God’s particular will for us it does give us principles that are to inform our decisions. Read the Bible and we will see that we are to consider the impact of our decisions on others. Read the Bible and we will see that it is wrong for a Christian to marry someone who is not a believer (2 Cor. 6:14). Read the Bible and we see that we are not to choose our career based simply on what income it offers (1 Tim. 6:10).
Stott gives the following guidelines to help us discover God’s particular will for our lives:
1. Yield. ‘An unsurrendered will is the most serious of all obstacles to the discovery of God’s will. If God does not reveal his truth to those who are not willing to believe it, neither does he reveal his will to those unwilling to do it’ (Stott). He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way (Psalm 25:9).
2. Pray. ‘A vague surrender is not enough; sustained, expectant prayer is also necessary . . . He does not disclose his will to us unless we really want to know it and express our desire in our prayers’ (Stott).
3. Talk. We don’t need to make our decisions on our own. We should seek the advice of mature Christian people as we grapple with the choices we face. ‘. . . wisdom is found in those who take advice’ (Proverbs 13:10).
4. Think. Weigh up the pros and cons. Do this in the light of biblical priorities. Don’t just depend on irrational hunches!
5. Wait. ‘So then, if we have to make a decision by a certain deadline, we must make it. But if not, and the way forward is still uncertain, it is wiser to wait . . . In my experience, more mistakes are made by precipitate action than by procrastination’ (Stott).
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