Matthew 6:10c
Setting and Overview
When we are searching for God’s will for a specific decision that we have to make or a path to pursue, there is a tendency to look to Scripture briefly but then quickly turn to other sources of wisdom, assuming that there is little that Scripture has to say to our specific situation or choice. In reality, when we come to know Scripture more fully, we realize that it provides such deep guidance that it should be the characterize our whole process from beginning to end. This isn’t to say, however, that Scripture precludes the need to rely on prayer. On the contrary, the depth of Scripture should be what draws us to prayer – not to receive divine revelation of God’s sovereign will, but for the wisdom to understand and apply His moral will as revealed in His Word.
Exposition
The Bible gives us a foundation of understanding that should radically shape every decision that we can make. It shows us that the suffering, needs, and joys of others, especially those in the Body, are ours as well (Romans 12:15, I Corinthians 12:25-26, I John 3:17.) It shows us that the greatest thing that we can do for someone in this life is to see to it that they do not fail to receive the grace of God to us in Christ Jesus, and the most cruel and evil thing that we can do is to idly watch their eternal destruction (James 5:19-20, Jude 1:22-23, Hebrews 12:14-15, I Corinthians 5:5. It also shows us that the greatest joy that we and others can experience in this life is reverent worship and obedience to Christ, and that joy is available to us at all times and in every situation (Romans 15:13, Philippians 4:4, John 15:11, 16:24.) Finally, it reminds us that the same God who commands us in what it means to live obedient lives now in His moral will has also revealed to us that He is sovereign over all and that His sovereign will is that He will conquer all enemies and reign forever (I Corinthians 15:24-28, Philippians 2:10-13, Revelation 11:15.) When we remember those things and seek out and follow His will with those truths in mind, then it cannot help but transform the way that we visibly live out our faith.
Examination and Application
Ultimately, this is a command to not to recognize God’s will or even to obey God’s will (although both are certainly implied commands) but to pray that His will be done. What does it mean, then, to pray that? First, it means to pray that we might see His moral will and how to apply it. That in turn should mean praying to know His Word more fully, to be willing to faithfully see God’s truth in His Word and not what we want to see, and to be able to humbly examine ourselves to see our sinful tendencies, desires, and biases so that we might recognize where we would be tempted to compromise or ignore the truth. It means to pray to be fully focused on glorifying. It means to pray that we would see that His way is immeasurably better than ours. It means to pray that we will do the truth that we see, and that others will as well.
When we are searching for God’s will for a specific decision that we have to make or a path to pursue, there is a tendency to look to Scripture briefly but then quickly turn to other sources of wisdom, assuming that there is little that Scripture has to say to our specific situation or choice. In reality, when we come to know Scripture more fully, we realize that it provides such deep guidance that it should be the characterize our whole process from beginning to end. This isn’t to say, however, that Scripture precludes the need to rely on prayer. On the contrary, the depth of Scripture should be what draws us to prayer – not to receive divine revelation of God’s sovereign will, but for the wisdom to understand and apply His moral will as revealed in His Word.
Exposition
The Bible gives us a foundation of understanding that should radically shape every decision that we can make. It shows us that the suffering, needs, and joys of others, especially those in the Body, are ours as well (Romans 12:15, I Corinthians 12:25-26, I John 3:17.) It shows us that the greatest thing that we can do for someone in this life is to see to it that they do not fail to receive the grace of God to us in Christ Jesus, and the most cruel and evil thing that we can do is to idly watch their eternal destruction (James 5:19-20, Jude 1:22-23, Hebrews 12:14-15, I Corinthians 5:5. It also shows us that the greatest joy that we and others can experience in this life is reverent worship and obedience to Christ, and that joy is available to us at all times and in every situation (Romans 15:13, Philippians 4:4, John 15:11, 16:24.) Finally, it reminds us that the same God who commands us in what it means to live obedient lives now in His moral will has also revealed to us that He is sovereign over all and that His sovereign will is that He will conquer all enemies and reign forever (I Corinthians 15:24-28, Philippians 2:10-13, Revelation 11:15.) When we remember those things and seek out and follow His will with those truths in mind, then it cannot help but transform the way that we visibly live out our faith.
Examination and Application
Ultimately, this is a command to not to recognize God’s will or even to obey God’s will (although both are certainly implied commands) but to pray that His will be done. What does it mean, then, to pray that? First, it means to pray that we might see His moral will and how to apply it. That in turn should mean praying to know His Word more fully, to be willing to faithfully see God’s truth in His Word and not what we want to see, and to be able to humbly examine ourselves to see our sinful tendencies, desires, and biases so that we might recognize where we would be tempted to compromise or ignore the truth. It means to pray to be fully focused on glorifying. It means to pray that we would see that His way is immeasurably better than ours. It means to pray that we will do the truth that we see, and that others will as well.
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