PRAYING FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD -- Tomorrow:
"For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness." (Colossians 1:9-11, KJV)
Devotion 12 of 32
" . . . with the knowledge of His will . . . "
Most versions read the same: "the knowledge of His will." The few exceptions are, "the knowledge of His purpose" (BBE), "a complete understanding of what He wants to do in your lives" (NLT), and "learn more and more how God works" (THE MESSAGE).
What does Paul mean by the words "His will?" Is this will centered in the individual believers – i.e., "the will of God for your life?" Is he speaking of a special and tailored plan the Lord has for your life – including your marriage, family, vocation, place of employment, and place of residence? Is this will subjective – having to do primarily with you? Or is it objective, having to do primarily with God Himself? Are you personally the aim of God's will? Or is the intention for you to become involved in the Divine will that is larger than yourself? The answer to these questions ought to be obvious. No person is big enough to be the objective of an eternal purpose. Individuals are involved in Divine will, but are not the objects of it.
THE KNOWLEDGE
This is not intellectual knowledge – like knowing mathematical tables, or the facts of history. Technically, this is "precise or correct knowledge" (STRONG'S). This is speaking of discernment, perception, and understanding. It is a knowledge that brings a fellowship with God. That fellowship is realized in the apprehension of God's will. This is a perception that enables the proper USE of what is known as well as the facts involved in it. This is a knowledge that is precise and accurate. It makes no allowance for opinion or private views.
There is a phenomenal amount of inaccurate knowledge in the professed church. There are major denominational divisions over HOW people understand the Word of God. Subjects like the church, the coming of Christ, the death of Christ, and the new birth have actually become the causes of division. Someone does not have the knowledge mentioned in this text, but rather have an imperfect knowledge. They do not have discernment or perception. However acceptable this may seem, it is altogether at variance with the very nature of the kingdom of God. The blessings of the Lord cannot be realized through imperfect knowledge!
At some point, those with a clear view of the things of God must pray for the saints to be "filled" with the kind of "knowledge" that glorifies God and transforms saints. This is involved in the renewing of the mind (Rom 12:2).
This is the kind of knowledge that includes perception, discernment, and understanding. It enables the one possessing it to handle the truth of God "aright" (2 Tim 2:15), and realize its benefits – i.e., "ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32).
HIS WILL
Here is the matter to be known: "His will." God's "will" is His purpose, determination, choice, and good pleasure. It is anchored in eternity, and is therefore called God's "eternal purpose" (Eph 3:11).
This is a "will" that centers in redemption as wrought out by the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me" (John 4:34). Again He affirmed, "For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me" (John 6:38). Once more Jesus said, "I can of Mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and My judgment is just; because I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me" (John 5:30).
Paul spoke of this will in the following way.
1. "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of HIS WILL" (Eph 1:5).
2. Again, showing the scope of this magnificent will, Paul wrote: "Having made known unto us the mystery of HIS WILL, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself: that in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him: in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of HIS OWN WILL" (Eph 1:9-11).
3. "Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to THE WILL OF GOD AND OUR FATHER: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen" (Gal 1:4-5).
This is "the will of God" concerning which Paul is praying. It includes what God is doing in the individual saints – but that is not its focus. The will of God is transcendent to men, even though they realize their ultimate benefit within that will. "His will" has primarily to do with what God is doing through Christ Jesus, who is the One who came to "DO" His will (Heb 10:9). It involves humanity, but is much larger than that. It touches upon every individual believer, but extends far beyond them.
God did not call us to participate in a salvation that centers in ourselves, our needs, our pleasures, and our welfare. In Christ we become beneficiaries, but we are not at the heart of things.
There is a core "will of the Lord" that must be understood. It moves one away from self-centeredness to God-centeredness. This is precisely why Jesus said, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Mat 6:33). He did NOT say, "Seek ye first your personal well being, the resolution of your difficulties, and security and happiness in this world!" Yet, much professed Christian activity actually holds these matters out as being preeminent.
The "knowledge" of which Paul speaks is the key to all other understanding. It deals with a lofty purpose that brings glory to God from among angelic hosts as well as humanity. Its most precise expression is found in Christ Jesus, and its most thorough declaration is found in the Gospel of Christ. This "will" has more to do with eternity than time, and the world to come than "this present evil world." This "will" was settled before the world began, and will continue after the heavens and earth that now are have passed away. This is fundamentally God's own will, not the will of man.
It is imperative that men be freed from all self-centeredness. Jesus died "for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again" (2 Cor 5:15). Any other kind of life is simply not acceptable.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, grant me grace to make Your will the locus in which my own will is found.