I Used to Think Everything Was God's Will

Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, and sent messengers before His face.  And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him.  But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem.  And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?"  But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do know what manner of spirit you are of.  For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them" And they went to another village. -Luke 9:51-56



I used to think everything was God's will, but now I think Jesus is God's will in action.

There once was a man who was a Bible teacher in my Sunday School class as a child.  When I was in my early twenties, he and some others were traveling in a van to minister in a city other than the one they lived in.  There was a car accident and this man was killed. I had just recently rededicated my life to the Lord, after having been away for some time, and was living at home with my mom. I remember having a conversation with her about this incident, and saying something along the lines of God having a reason or purpose for this happening. She disagreed with me strongly, and told me it was not the will of God for this man to die.  He was probably only in his forties or fifties, still a fairly young man.

I remember thinking she was wrong, but just moved on.

About twenties years has passed since that happened, and oh, how I know that I was the one who was wrong.  It was not in any way God's will for that man to die in that car accident.

In John chapter 14, Jesus is having a conversation with His disciples.  He says to them,

If you had known Me, you would have known my Father also; and from now on you have known Him and have seen Him.  Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.  Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves."

Jesus is God's will in action.  Anything that Jesus said or did is the express will of God.

Acts 10:38 says,

how God annointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with HIM.

The way Jesus forgave sins is God's will.
The way Jesus healed and restored bodies is God's will.
The way Jesus fed people is God's will.
The way Jesus gave women a voice is God's will.
The way Jesus valued little children and blessed them is God's will.
The way Jesus provided an overflowing abundance is God's will.
The way Jesus did miracles is God's will.

The way Jesus loved is God's will.

All of the overflowing, abundant, life-giving things that Jesus did is God's will.  And it is still God's will.

Jesus is still doing these things through His Church, giving life, healing, causing an abundant overflow-He is still at work.  

Many blessings to you as you continue to grow in your knowledge of Jesus,

Beth