Determined Will

DETERMINED WILL

Part 1 of 3 in Will of God Series

Ephesians 1:1-14

Verse 4: “For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.”

Ms. DeTurk glared at her fifth grade student, Scotty. She said, “You’ll stay inside tomorrow during recess. AND, I assign you a three-page explanation about why you won’t obey the recess monitor.”

Scotty frowned, and shot angry looks at Ms. DeTurk the rest of the day. When the school ending-bell rang, he shot straight out of the class like a dart.

At home, Scotty defiantly tore out three pages from his notebook, and wrote across the three: “I don’t want to!” This is what he handed Ms. DeTurk the next day.

Ms. DeTurk was determined to punish Scotty for his disobedience. Scotty stayed inside during recess the rest of the week.

God’s determined will for His kids gives us the choice to obey—or not. People resist because of two things: we don’t know what God wants, and we’re not sure how to get what God wants. What God wants was determined before the creation of the world—and never changed.

While God doesn’t spill the plans that He’s determined to carry out freely to His creation, we dig up those treasures with Bible study. For instance, Revelation 19:11 says, “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from His presence, and there was no place for them.”

Even the earth and sky understand God’s determined will—and they flee! What can humans do? Well, we know that God gave humans free will. While our free will is limited, we get to choose how to act. Another plan the Bible reveals that God determined was how to redeem human beings from our sin.

Whether we believe God is sovereign to do whatever He determines—or not—doesn’t change the facts of His determined will.

Take Home Nugget

The opening Scripture shows that God’s determined will for the people whom He chose would be holy and blameless in His sight. There’s only one way we can achieve that: believe in Jesus as Lord of our lives.

1 Peter 2:9a says, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God...” And, 1 Corinthians 1:8 says, “He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

That answers both questions why people resist God’s determined will. How will you respond—or are you a Scotty? Check out the lesson link, below, to learn more.
Every child of God has a special place in His plan.

J.D. Griffith

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