When Christ came into the world He said: “…Behold, I have come—in the volume of the book it is written of Me—to do your will, O God.” Hebrews 10:7

          The four gospels attest to the fact that the Father and His will were always uppermost in Jesus’ mind. Jesus consistently referenced His Father in whatever He said or did. Concerning His words, Jesus said this:

“…I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.” John 12:49-50

          Concerning His works, Jesus said this: “…I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me…the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.” John 5:30, 36

          It was the will of God that the Messiah of Israel should be His very own, first begotten Son, born of a virgin in Bethlehem, at the exact time in the history of this world that God chose. Then, at the age of twelve, we see Jesus sitting in the temple in the midst of the teachers of Israel. When His mother questioned Him as to why He was there, Jesus’ answer was: “Why were you searching for Me? Didn’t you know I had to be about My Father’s business?” Luke 2:49

          Twelve years old and Jesus was doing His Father’s will; sometime around thirty years old we find Jesus saving a sinful woman in Samaria. When the disciples asked Jesus about His need to eat, He said this to them: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work.” John 4:34

          When Jesus was about 33 years of age, nailed to a cross and dying, His last words were: “It is finished!” John 19:30 Concerning God’s will and Jesus’ death on the cross, we read this: “…By God’s will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all…by one sacrifice God has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” Hebrews 10:10, 14 Praise the Lord!

          If doing the will of His Father was the focus and priority of Jesus’ life, what does that say about those who profess to follow Him? Here’s what the apostle Paul teaches to those who love Jesus, concerning the will of God:

“…I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2

          Doing God’s will filled Jesus’ heart and mind all the days of His earthly journey. If you profess to be a faithful follower of Jesus Christ; if you confess that you are a child of the living God—that Jesus’ God is your God, and His Father is your Father, then, how does the will of God fit into your heart and thoughts? 

          The Bible, God’s word, gives us all we need to know about what God’s will is for our life. In the New Testament, Jesus and the apostles clearly lay out for us the will of God concerning our words and our lifestyle. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness [the will of God], so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

“…Whoever does God’s will is My brother and sister and mother.” Mark 3:35

Brother Bill is a Bible teacher and can be contacted at bboldham@sbcglobal.net