Willing to Do God’s Will? Really? Making God’s Will Your Highest Priority

By Pastor Chuck Swindoll

We pastors are great at telling people the will of God for their lives. But what about following God’s will in our own lives? Truth be told, it’s a lot easier to preach it to others than to put it into practice for ourselves.

The apostle Paul’s words come to mind:

[If you] know His will and approve the things that are essential, being instructed out of the Law, and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth, you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal? You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God? (Romans 2:18–23 NASB)

Paul’s words were directed to Jews who knew (and believed) the Word of God. By principle, that’s us as well.

Are You Willing?

Let me ask you a penetrating question: Are you willing to do God’s will? Really?

Looking back on my own life, I know that there have been times when I said I wanted to do His will . . . but I really didn’t.

That’s a tough thing to confess, but looking back hindsight is 20/20, isn’t it? I realize that at times I resisted His will. I’ve also learned that serious consequences follow selfish resistance.

Do the Will of God

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul offered words of counsel to those who were enslaved. They have great meaning for us as pastors or ministry leaders.

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. (Ephesians 6:5–6 emphasis added)

Do the will of God with all your heart—that’s as deep as it gets. You really want to do the will of God more than anything else?

More than pleasing people
More than staying comfortable and safe
More than completing your education
More than building a new sanctuary
More than getting published
More than getting your house paid for
More than anything else

You want to do the will of God?

I do, and I believe that you do too. Doing God’s will. Let’s make this priority the driving force of our life and ministry . . . and relying fully on His Spirit, surrender to that will each day.

About the author

Pastor Chuck Swindoll

Pastor Charles R. Swindoll has devoted his life to the accurate, practical teaching and application of God’s Word. He is the founding pastor of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas, but Chuck’s listening audience extends far beyond a local church body. As a leading program in Christian broadcasting since 1979, Insight for Living airs around the world. Chuck’s leadership as president and now chancellor emeritus at Dallas Theological Seminary has helped prepare and equip a new generation of men and women for ministry.

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