DAILY BYTE
Now, because it is all about loving relationship, we need to know that whenever we pray this line of the Lord’s Prayer, we can trust the will of God implicitly.
For until we know we are loved by God, we will always struggle to ask for God’s will to be done because we will find it hard to trust what exactly that may imply for us.
In fact, I have to say that the most common question I get asked as a pastor is: “What exactly is the will of God for my life?” Most of the time, I can’t answer that because we all have our own unique stamp to our calling and life direction. It is something that has to be discerned, tested and wrestled with.
Recent archaeology has discovered something fascinating about the Temple in Jerusalem. The ancient Temple was raised above the rest of the city meaning that from some directions it would be quite a steep ascent to its entrance. Most especially the southern steps from the Tyropean Valley, which entailed a steep climb of several hundred feet.
It has been discovered that these particular steps were an absolute engineering nightmare. The rise of the step varied by several inches while the stretch varied by as much as a couple of feet. This led archaeologists to wonder if the design engineers of these steps were either incompetent or intoxicated!
Yet, ancient Rabbis have an explanation for the design of these steps that is rooted in spiritual formation. They explained that the engineers knew to approach the Temple hurriedly, and without thought, would be spiritually ill-advised.
You must approach the Temple as you would approach God and his will ... with a deep awareness of the journey.
Knowing that just as no two steps are the same, so there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach in respect to God’s will for us. The uneven steps to God’s presence were a reminder that we can’t bluster up brashly thinking that we understand it all before we even get there.
However, to not go up at all, to not seek God’s particular will for our lives just because the journey is hard, would be equally foolish. For there are certain overarching principles that can be used as compass and map in negotiating the uncertain steps of doing God’s will.
Some of these principles were alluded to yesterday: for example, that God created us in love and by love and for love meaning that love is always central his will. This also means that relationships and serving and giving are God’s will rather than power and achievements and getting.
For as much as the journey may be crazily haphazard at times, and we may slip and stumble our way over missteps, we can always trust the will of God because we know that its essence is always loving and good.
PRAY AS YOU GO
Loving Lord, there is so much I do not understand in life, so I ask that you may help me to trust in the goodness of your will even amidst the confusion that often dominates my landscapes. Amen.
FOCUS VERSE
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
