Today’s Reading

Second Kings 23-25; John 7:1-31

Selected Verses

Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him. 2 Kings 23:25

If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. John 7:17

Reflections

Yesterday we saw that we choose unbelief because that is the natural inclination of our hearts. By the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, we are born again with hearts inclined toward God. Today we see that another obstacle to believing, besides being spiritually dead and unable and unwilling to believe, is that as unbelievers we do not really want to do God’s will.

Jesus told the crowds, who were astounded by His teaching despite His apparent lack of formal education, that His teaching came from the One who sent Him. What He taught was not His own but His Father’s teaching. God the Father’s authority was behind the Son’s words. How can you know this? Jesus said, if anyone’s will is to do God’s will, that person will know whose the teaching is. People around Jesus all heard Him, but they responded in a wide variety of ways. Some sort-of believed. Some seriously doubted. Others wondered. But Jesus said the confusion would clear up immediately for that person who was seeking to do God’s will.

Josiah, although living some six centuries before Jesus, was certainly a man whose will was to do God’s will. When the Book of the Covenant was found, Josiah devoured it. He then gathered all the people together and read it to them in its entirety. He wanted to do God’s will, and he wanted the people in his kingdom to do so, too.

Think about it

It is a dangerous thing to be indifferent or averse to the will of God. Be careful what you don't wish for. Make it your greatest desire to do God's will. Seek to know it through His Word. One thing we know He wills for us is our sanctification, that we grow to be more like His Son (1 Thessalonians 4:3;Romans 8:29). Eventually, if we believe, we will be like Him for we will see Him as He is (1 John 3:2).

© 2017 John A Carroll Used by permission