Conforming to His Will

                                                   DEVOTION

THE LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS

CONFORMING TO HIS WILL

Eph 1:11-14

11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession — to the praise of his glory.

NIV

First, before we look at what we are included in, we must know that it was not us that were also chosen, but it was Paul who was also chosen along with the twelve apostles, that Jesus personally called them to follow him. It is clear that Paul was one of the chosen who God determined according to His plan that He works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will. Now, this is something that we can sink our teeth into which was meant as regarding God choosing Paul, but when we talk about the will of God, that has to also apply to us. Of course, we want to consider being sealed, but before we get to that we must ponder on God working out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will. We also want to consider that to hope in Christ might be for the praise of his glory. Nevertheless, when we think about the will of God, and that He works out everything in conformity to the purpose of his will, we have to know that includes our lives. It is God who started this good work in us and it is God who is going to bring it to completion. Because we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, or in other words, we accepted the provision for our redemption that God worked in conformity with the purpose of his will, we accepted God’s will for us, and thus it would seem right that we submit our will to His will. This means we are no longer the master of our lives, for God is. We know that we cannot serve two masters God or money, as we already consider money as a representation of self. When we serve ourselves usually, we are in pursuit of money in one form or another, as money is what is needed to live in this life. We need only to look at the world and see them chasing their dreams, their aspirations, goals, and it usually revolves around wanting more money to afford them their material desires. Of course, we too need money to buy the things of life, and how do we work that out with the conformity of His will? Does our existence in this life matter to the will of God?  Are we to look to ourselves to provide all our needs and wants and only submit to God in spiritual matters. Would that not be trying to serve two masters? God knows we need these things, and  we should see that His will takes us to where we should work, live, and even play, along with where we should worship as a church. Our whole lives should always be about seeing God working out everything in and for us, in conformity to the purpose of his will. We need only consult Him in every aspect of our lives to insure we are living in conformity to his will.