God’s Will and Boldness

When it comes to God’s will, there are three types of believers: (1) those who know the will of God and try to live it; (2) those who know the will of God and don’t live it; (3) those who don’t know the will of God and therefore do not live it. There are relatively few in the first category. In fact British Revivalist Henry Varley, said to D.L. Moody, “The world has yet to see what God can do through one man totally committed to Him.” The third category is full of believers, attributed to everything from spiritual immaturity to apathy to disobedience. It is the second category to which Paul writes in Ephesians 5:17: “Therefore, do not be unwise (foolish), but understand what the will of the Lord is.” This group has an idea what God’s will is, they just do not believe that they understand it fully enough to do it, thus Paul calls them “unwise” or “foolish.” My observation of this group is that in their inability or unwillingness to fully know God’s will, they are hesitant to take a step in the direction of living it. Thus the problem, with group two, is not so much a lack of understanding or even ignorance, as it is a lack of boldness – “Boldness” which Francis Bacon called, “A child of ignorance.” So, be bold, do what you believe to be God’s will. If it turns out to be God’s will, you win. If it turns out not to be God’s will, you get up, brush yourself off, apologize, and try again. I really think God is more impressed with failed boldness than He is with inactive faith.

Join me this week in praying for the following global concerns:
• Please pray that the drillers will get back to work to drill 5 more water wells while there is a break in the rain in Mzimba, Malawi.
• Pray for an Australian disciple training group that has recently become a church.
• Pray for Darrel and Kimberly as they continue Hungarian language study.
• Pray for the next Vancouver Vision Tour, Feb. 8-11.