Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: Knowing God's Will

Read: Proverbs 3:6; Romans 12:2, Ephesians 5:15-17

Think: There have been a couple of movies and books in popular culture about what God might be like if we could see Him up front and in person. Maybe you’ve read the book The Shack where the triune God becomes profoundly part of a tragic situation. Or if you’re a movie buff you saw God in Bruce Almighty or in Evan Almighty as a genial sort teaching some strategic life lessons for the main characters… There are others but probably one of my favorites was the movie “Oh God!” Now sadly dated (it came out in ‘77), I found it thought provoking.

The lead character was John Denver playing an assistant grocery store manager named Jerry Landers. When he starts to claim he has met and spoken to God (portrayed in the form of comedian George Burns) the reaction of others is less than kind. Landers (Denver) doesn’t literally get stoned to death, but the media backlash he endures was rough… And I’m thinking pretty true to what would likely be the case today if one of us would make the claim God appeared to us.

Those of us who are clinically sane and living regular lives don’t typically have a “God appeared in my bathroom and told me what to do with my life” kind of experience. Though I sure wish He would sometimes… But He does still lead us into and according to His will. As Pastor Ben talked about, we are oftentimes directed by God through a series of actions and choices that He specifically reveals.

Personally, I like how author and Whitworth College professor Jerry Sittser talks about finding and walking in God’s will. In his book The Will of God as a Way of Life, Sittser uses examples from his own life struggles as he searched for the will of God. His story begins with a struggle to determine his life’s vocation to become (and later to remain) a theology professor. He lost his first wife tragically leaving Sittser to raise their children as a single father. Ultimately he found peace and confidence deep in the midst of tragedy as he sought God’s will. His example was right on: He chose to seek God’s will first, then by applying God’s laws and principles in his life fully, God restored and blessed him with new hope and new life.

In the “big” questions that shape our lives, as Pastor Ben reminded us, God gives us tremendous latitude and freedom to choose our spouse, our careers, our thoughts, the way we handle money… He then lets us manage the consequences of those choices. But don't overlook the fact that God looks for us to seek Him diligently in the details of our daily life too: how we respond to our spouse or children, how we treat other employees or customers in our daily work, how we spend our leisure time and money. It’s in the everyday, normal events and questions where God looks to us to demonstrate a higher wisdom.

Do: When you move through the day today, seek God’s will not in the big events and decisions alone. Include Him as you make the seemingly small decisions as well. Walk through the day consulting Him often and let Him lead the way.

Pray: Father, I want to be wise, and I know the wisest thing I can do is follow You! Help me to hear you today as I seek You moment by moment. Lead me in the way that brings honor to You and is best for me and for those I care about. In Jesus’ name, Amen.  

The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.