God's Will For Our Lives

God's Will For Our Lives
Exodus 11-13 | Psalm 21 | John 21

Today's Psalm contains the words of David, king of Israel, praising God for always providing for him, and granting him every desire of his heart:

O LORD, the king rejoices in your strength.
How great is his joy in the victories you give!
You have granted him the desire of his heart
and have not withheld the request of his lips...(vv.1-2)

David goes on to attribute God's blessing to his own trust in the Lord: "For the king trusts in the LORD; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken" (v.7). Does this mean that all Christians will receive similar blessing? Happily, we find the answer in today's reading of John.

Folowing Jesus' repeated commands to Peter to 'feed His sheep', Peter is 'reinstated' and Jesus tells him that, 'when he was younger, he dressed himself and went where he wanted; but when he is old he will stretch out his hands, and someone else will dress him and lead him where he does not want to go' (v.18). John then comments: "Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God."

In the case of Peter, 'following Christ' meant a life of service to Christ; 'feeding His sheep', ensuring growth and love within the Church. It also meant that he would die in the service of Christ (as hinted at in v.18 & 13:36-37). Early tradition and a few sources proclaim that Peter was eventually crucified as well (though he only went happily to such a death upside down, as he felt unworthy to die in the same manner as Christ), however these sources are viewed as unreliable. Nevertheless, Peter died a martyr in the service of the Lord after having served Him continually.

Following these remarks of Jesus, we get a small insight into the future life of the disciple John ('the one whom Jesus loved'), with the mention of long life (though he did die). We learn from other books in the Bible and other sources that in the case of John, 'following Christ' would not be such a dramatic and obviously heroic experience as it was for Peter. His contribution would come later in the early Church, fighting heresies and various anti-Christs. He would tell of what he had seen with his own eyes, touched with his own hands and heard with his own ears; passing on the knowledge of the Word of God in the form of a man: Jesus Christ. This Gospel which we are reading is attributed to him, as is The Revelation of John, and various epistles of the New Testament bearing his name.

It is important to remember the lesson commented on in the message of day 18: God has a plan for all our lives, for some it may be full of material blessing and power like King David; for others, it may be a life of tough service and even martyrdom, as in the life of Peter; and for still others it may be a life of 'quiet' service, as in the life of John. No matter how God provides for us though: materially rich or poor, an easy life or a tough one, a long life or a short one; it is His will that we all are blessed spiritually.

For the Kingdom of God is not of this world: material possesions will come and go, loved ones will come and go, positions of power and respect will come and go, your earthly life has come but it will go... but your relationship with God is with you forever. It is indeed a blessing to know that no matter what God's plan for your life is, it involves your drawing nearer to Him.

Praise God for His provision and sustenance in your life, and pray especially that you may draw closer to Him, seeking to glorify Him in all that you do, and trusting Him in all aspects of your life.