Gods Will

To be deliberate in seeking out the will of God for our lives must be in the forefront of our minds at all times. If not we must conclude that we are not walking in the Spirit with intent but rather are living with the carnal dominating our engagements. This type of behaviour is of a sensual nature and it will never please our heavenly Father, regardless of its outward appearance. Think about it like this, we may even perform feats of charity but if driven from a natural persuasion it will always remain marred by sin. In other words our intention will always have an agenda. Recognition and the like a driving force.

You may ask how I arrive at such a conclusion. Here is the Word of God which must take priority on all matters and at all times. “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”  (Romans 8: 6-8) – Do we understand? It would be a completely futile project to give everything we have to the poor and reject the message of the Gospel. It would have its reward of recognition from others but not from God. Its fundamental that we come to grips with this reality and that our minds are renewed to the point of the will of God on this matter.

This is not to say that we have not been instructed to give to the poor, we must give to all with a cheerful heart. We have been commissioned to lay our lives down for others. But like every principle in life that teaches us about the will of God, so too must we align this application to our lives in the correct order. God first and his righteousness, his will not our needs, as this will ensure that we are walking in the Spirit and we are not simply applying carnal reasons to our actions. How do we test our application to such a turn? We give with a cheerful heart to those in need when we have it in our power to do so, but we do it in secret. This then pleases our Father; “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:3-4)

Obviously this instruction speaks about the heart and is driven by the Spirit. When we pray how should we pray? In secret. I trust the yardstick of the Spirit, in principle at least can be measured.

Our intent to do anything must never be done to be acknowledged by others and if it is, even in the smallest measure it is not a work of the Spirit. God give us the resolve to walk in the Spirit and to see the difference.

Signing off

Tyrone