Bible Studies for Life for August 2: Do you see the big picture?

As a pastor, I am blessed when a church member says to me, “Bro. Mike, I am so fulfilled. I believe I am doing what the Lord wants me to do.” Is it easy to discover God’s purpose for your life?

Author Mike Hurt states, “If God were a Magic 8 Ball©, finding his will would be pretty easy—just a shake and an answer.”

I have been a minister of the gospel almost 20 years and have learned that discerning God’s will is not an easy task. Yes, I know I am called to be a minister of the gospel, but to know each day that I am doing exactly what the Lord wants me to do is not easy.

The study theme for the month of August, “Finding and following God’s will,” will be a help to all in discerning God’s will for our lives. The five Bible lessons for the month will be an encouragement by providing biblical principles in how to discover the will of God for our lives each day.

The first lesson asks the question, “Do you see the big picture?” The big picture concerning God’s will for our lives has been revealed in the Bible. Living in God’s will begins with being saved, living pure and holy lives, and pursuing what is good.

God wants all to be saved (2 Peter 3:8-9)

After the resurrection of Jesus, new believers believed the second coming of Christ would occur in their lifetimes. The early believers were facing persecution every day. Many of the early believers made the mistake of naming a date when Jesus would return. The false teachers deliberately sought to undermine their faith by asking why Christ did not return on the date they had predicted.

Since the early believers were facing persecution each day, they wanted to be delivered and to see Jesus return. What is delaying the return of Christ?

Peter writes “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day” (v. 8). Peter is reminding them that God’s perspective of time is different than the human perspective. There is a reason why Christ has not returned.

Peter explains, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (v. 9).

God may have seemed slow to the early Christians, but he is not. Jesus is waiting for more sinners to repent and turn to him.

In the second stanza of the hymn, “Wonderful Words of Life”, we sing; “Christ, the blessed One, gives to all wonderful words of life; Sinner, list to the loving call, wonderful words of life; All so freely given, wooing us to heaven.”

The hymn writer wants us to know Christ has given the call for sinners to repent and be saved. The wonderful words about Jesus are used by the Holy Spirit to affectionately move the sinner to repentance.

The apparent delay in Christ’s return is due to God’s desire that everyone repent and be saved. Christ has yet to return because not everyone has heard the gospel. With today’s communication technology, we are closer to everyone being able to hear the gospel and respond. The delay gives more opportunities to share the gospel with the unsaved.

God wants all believers to be holy (1 Thessalonians 4:1-5)

Once we are saved, how does God want us to live? In order to please God one must follow the teachings of his son, Jesus Christ. “For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus” (v. 2).

In verse 3, the Apostle Paul states, “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified.” The meaning of “sanctified” is the process of living the Christian life. A believer is made holy as the Holy Spirit works in the believer’s life conforming them into the image of Christ.

During this time sexual standards were very low in the Roman Empire. Today, many societies have the same problem as the Romans. Paul continues to write in verses 3-5, “that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God.”

God’s will for us includes moral purity. The road that leads one to go outside the boundaries of the commandments established by God concerning sexual relationships can have disastrous results.

How do we avoid committing sin? The safeguard believers have is the Bible. In the Bible, God makes his will known to believers. Personal Bible study must be a priority.

What are your reading habits? Does the morning newspaper or your favorite website get more time or do the Holy Scriptures?

God wants all Christians to pursue good (1 Thessalonians 5:15-22)

God’s will for everyone is that “nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else” (v. 15). Believers are not to plan ways of revenge when someone mistreats them. They are instructed to instead, to do good toward them.

The Scriptures say, “Be joyful, pray continually, and give thanks” (vv. 16-18). We must remember, God always is in control, despite the circumstance. Since God always is present, talking to him is a must. Giving thanks is acknowledgment of what God has done. Thanksgiving brings joy to the heart.

When believers make a decision to obey God, the result is that we see people in a new perspective. This new perspective can lead you to help someone make the faith decision to accept Jesus Christ as Savior. Would you prefer to be a help to someone in understanding God’s will or be a hindrance?

Believers are instructed to “avoid every kind of evil” (v. 22). If stopping at a convenience store every morning tempts you to buy donuts, thus breaking the rules of your diet, then stop going to the convenience store.

Obviously, we cannot avoid every evil because we live in a sinful world. We can, however, make the choice to obey God and not give temptation a chance to entice us to sin.

God’s will is for everyone to know Jesus in a life changing way. All Christians are to live pure lives and pursue what is good for them and others.