How do I determine God’s will for my life? [P2]

Pen to Paper | June 4, 2010 12:03 am

<< continued from [P1]

How do I love others?
Jesus shares a new commandment in John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

The Lord specifically points out that we are to be characterized by the love we have for each other. People around us must know we are Christians by our love just as Christ has first loved us. This reiterates the need for us to serve each other.

Does loving others mean that we do all that they asked us to do for them? Not necessarily. For example, if a friend asks you to get him another beer, but he is an alcoholic and he’s already almost past out, showing love to him maybe to ignore that request and getting help from a sober adult. He needs help not a beer.

You can also show love to others by teaching them the Good News of Jesus. Sometimes it’s just living out the teachings of Jesus with your friends that will teach them about God’s love for them. I can’t even begin to tell you how amazing it is when you get to sit with your friend and help lead them into an everlasting relationship with the Savior of the world.

Additionally, recognizing others as God’s precious creation is a great way to love them. As humans, we have a tendency to put other’s down in order to build ourselves up. Recognizing others as children of the King and also rightful heirs to the throne can help us treat people correctly. We can love people by using words that would build others up, instead of putting them down.

The amazing thing about loving others is that sometimes you don’t even realize, until years later, how much your love meant to that person. Sometimes you may never know. But God does, and that’s really all that matters.

Oh yeah, and showing love to others, getting creative in the ways you help fulfill their needs, may just give you an idea of what God wants you to do with your life on a permanent basis. Have fun walking in God’s will. Worship Him in obeying His commandments and serving Him in love toward Him and those around you.

By Jan Sullivan, USA

Tags: ,

3 Comments

  1. Enoch says:

    Thanks for helping me to find a way to know that if I’m walking with the will of God.But still I’m having questions about my life as I don’t know where am I going? What God expect me to do for Him.

    Reply
    • Isaac Tan, YMI writer says:

      Hi Enoch

      I think there is beauty in not knowing much and trusting in Christ to provide. He has promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us and that in itself is really an assurance.

      Personally, I’m caught in a crossroads of my life and I have to decide what subjects to study for my university education and it’s really tough having to think about these things. But the one thing that I do is to keep praying and asking God in His own time and way to show me what I should do. Sometimes a little thought impressed in upon us really goes a long way when we put our faith and trust in Him.

      Psalms 121 says:

      1 I look up to the mountains—
      does my help come from there?
      2 My help comes from the Lord,
      who made heaven and earth!
      3 He will not let you stumble;
      the one who watches over you will not slumber.
      4 Indeed, he who watches over Israel
      never slumbers or sleeps.

      5 The Lord himself watches over you!
      The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
      6 The sun will not harm you by day,
      nor the moon at night.

      7 The Lord keeps you from all harm
      and watches over your life.
      8 The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
      both now and forever.

      Trust in Him that He can lead you on a right direction and know that even if it doesn’t seem right now, all things are made good in His time.

      You can read my response about the topic of the Will of God here: http://www.facebook.com/board.php?uid=121830225514#!/topic.php?uid=121830225514&topic=12701

      Reply
    • Gordon says:

      Hey Enoch

      These are my thoughts……

      God can and does lead clearly and specifically into a certain job or course of study etc. However we often get so hung up about the specifics that we forget that God’s Will for us is as expressed in the article, to Love Him and to Love others. God doesn’t tell us in Scripture that we have to study this paper or that one, or take this job or that. We are encouraged, “So whatever you do or say, do it wholeheartedly for the Lord” Colossians 3.
      This is broad and takes on a variety of shapes and sizes. God has given us the freedom to Love Him and others in so many different ways. Sometimes I think we need to take off the pressure we place on ourselves to determine God’s “specific” will for us and that through loving and serving Him wholeheartedly, the “specifics” will flow.
      At the same time we are wired certain ways and as we seek God He will put desires in us and grow our gifts that will lead us into various jobs or study etc.
      Whatever we are doing, wherever we are we are asked by God to be faithful in that context until he moves us on. :)
      I hope this helps a little

      Reply

Leave a Comment

Related

How do I determine God’s will for my life? [P1]
0

How do I determine God’s will for my life? [P1]

By Jan Sullivan, USA How do I determine God’s will for my life? This is a question that many of us would struggle with at least one time or another. Most people struggle with it at major crossroads in their life, such as job choice. How do I know which job to apply for? Which [...]

Published on June 4, 2010 12:03 am
How do I determine God’s will for my life? [P2]
3

How do I determine God’s will for my life? [P2]

Published on June 4, 2010 12:03 am
Loneliness and Being Alone
1

Loneliness and Being Alone

By Jan Sullivan, USA Have you ever felt totally alone in a room crowded with people? Have you ever been totally alone without feeling lonely? Loneliness is different from being alone. Being alone means there is no one physically close to you. So, you can still be in relationship with people, but still be alone. [...]

Published on May 21, 2012 12:02 am