Text:
‘Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is’ – Ephesians 5:16.
Thought:
My father indicated that after he died everything was to be sold and divided equally amongst his seven children. That was his promise to us. However, after his death, we all wanted to be sure his promise held true because a will can always be changed while a person is still alive.
The inept solicitor firstly sent us a copy of someone else’s will. That was bad enough as a breach of confidence, but it had no real interest to us as our names were not written in it. Then he sent us two pages instead of three. Again this was frustrating as we needed to know everything Dad had instructed. At last we got a full copy of the will and could clearly see how we were beneficiaries.
The Book of Ephesians records six times the words, ‘His will’. Each one helps to give us a fuller meaning as to the rights and privileges we have in Christ.
1. By the will of God – 1:1
Paul’s past, like ours would surely disqualify us from doing anything for God. Yet God’s grace transforms us from sinners into saints, equipped to serve. God’s will is made clear by the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, ‘I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain’ – John 15:16.
2. According to the good pleasure of His will – 1:5
A will is only good for us when there’s something in it to benefit us, directly or indirectly. Some rich people worry that their hard earned wealth will be inherited by those who won’t appreciate it nor spend it wisely. Isaiah 53:10 says, ‘It pleased the Lord to bruise Him’. The purpose of God in condemning us all as sinners was that everyone then could be included for salvation through having Jesus Christ as their personal saviour.
3. The mystery of His will – 1:9
Paul revealed that God had included the Gentiles, together with the Jews, as equal beneficiaries. The Book of Acts records that it took a while for the believers to realise this, for they were preaching the gospel only to the Jews – Acts 11:19. God had to change Peter’s thinking with a visit to Cornelius’ house where he learnt, ‘Not to call any man common or unclean’ – Acts 10:28. Then God used Paul as an apostle to the Gentiles – Galatians 2:8, to make sure this mystery was made known, that the gospel is for the whosoever, wherever.
4. According to the counsel of His will – 1:11
The Amplified Bible puts it clearly, ‘Who works out everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His own will’. God will not do anything that contradicts His word. He will never lead anyone to disobey His word. Like an executor, God is carrying out His will in the lives of those who belong to Him. Likewise, God will never fail to do what He has promised He will do, so we can have every confidence in Him and His word.
5. Understand what the will of the Lord is – 5:17
Read the Bible regularly and find out what’s in it that applies to you – generally and specifically. Not every blessing is needed now. A person doesn’t need healing until they get sick. However they usually know ill people and so need to understand what the will of the Lord is regarding this. A good exercise is to read the Bible and add your name. For example: ‘That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you (Norman) the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you (Norman) may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power towards (Norman) who believes’ etc.. – Ephesians 1:17-19. The believer has an inheritance – 1:11, 14 & 18. The unbeliever doesn’t – 5:5. The believer is a fellow-heir – 3:6.
We legally have the right to this but Satan tries to undermine us through guilt and fear. ‘You’re too unworthy to ask for that!’ Only the dirty need soap. Only the guilty need mercy. By putting our faith in Christ, we are brought into right standing with God and have boldness to come into His presence to ask. Don’t make the mistake of thinking this inheritance is only for when we are alive. Peter writes about, ‘An inheritance, incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you’ – 1 Peter 1:4. However good life is now, the best is yet to come!
6. Doing the will of God from the heart – 6:6
Some wrongly teach that Christians can’t do anything for God until everything is right with God. They’re trying to do what Christ has done for them. We are made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus and therefore can start doing the will of God immediately. Heart service that springs out of faith, love and thankfulness, and reaching out to others with the same good news that has saved them. Jesus said, ‘Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it’ – Luke 11:28.
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