JOHN 13:1-7 – Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”.

THEME OF THE DAY. THE WILL OF GOD REVEALED. Sooner or later, every Christian is going to learn this truth. Hopefully sooner. It is the truth of Isaiah 55:8 – For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. As a new believer, and maybe even an “older” believer who should have learned better, we are often quick to say, “This is the Lord’s will” in what we are about to do. Or we tell other Christians, “The Lord told me.” Now I understand the good intentions behind both, but both are extremely dangerous, and may even, without our knowing it, have two elements in them which will be stumbling blocks to other Christians.

First, there is the sin of presumption. Think about it. To say “This is the will of God for me” is bold. How do you know? I mean really know? In today’s scripture, Peter thought he had it figured out. He didn’t and the Lord told him so. If what we are doing or about to do is the will of God, four things will be present in the leading. First, it lines up with scripture – the Word of God stated clearly. Next, it promotes the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thirdly, Jesus is the chief theme in the leading. And finally, attention toward self is absent. When the will of God is present and unfolding, any drawing attention to ourselves reveals it is not His will.

Another thing present if we are quick to claim something or a leading is the will of God is the damage it may do in a young believer. Let’s use the Apostle Paul as an example. If we recall in 2 Corinthians 12, the Apostle is describing “a man” who went to heaven and received revelation from the Lord. This “man” was Paul himself, but he wouldn’t draw attention to himself. Imagine being in a Bible study and we are going around the room sharing our lives with each other, and we come to the Apostle Paul. He says, “Last week I went to heaven and was with the Lord.” That pretty well ends all the sharing! And when we claim experiences with the Lord that other Christians have not had, especially saying, “The Lord told me”, we may be setting up a brother or sister for discouragement. Share our walk with the Lord, but keep it Biblically “safe” and be aware of the impact – positive or negative – on other believers. Remember, we don’t live for ourselves.

So, when it comes to the will of God, don’t look for or claim something mysterious. The majority of His will is revealed in His Word. And what isn’t will unfold by circumstances which is His providence and always line up with His Word and the exaltation of His Son, the Lord Jesus.

PRAYER: “Father, forgive me for thinking I know more of Your ways and works in my life than I really do.”

QUOTE: “God’s ways are mysterious. Be humbled by this truth. And respond not by what you think but by what He says.”