God’s Will – Revelation In the Word
(God) who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began 2 Timothy 1:9 (ESV)
Billy Graham was born on a North Carolina dairy farm in 1918. He grew up in a home where devotion to God was the bedrock of family life and where the Word of God was the compass that guided them. In May 1934, the Grahams hosted a prayer meeting on their farm organised by the Christian businessmen of Charlotte, North Carolina. One of their many fervent prayers was that God would raise up someone out of Charlotte to preach the gospel to the ends of the earth. That same year, at the age of sixteen, Billy Graham committed his life to the Lord at a revival meeting. This commitment would change his life forever. He went on to study at the Florida Bible Institute. While he was there, he would often walk along the golf course to pray. One night, there on the 18th green of the golf course, he felt the need to kneel and fully surrender his life to God’s calling to become an evangelist. He made a commitment to preach the gospel regardless of the outcome. Billy Graham reached some 215 million people around the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
His Will in His Word
Many of us have one or all of these burning questions in our hearts: “What am I here for? What is God’s will or plan for my life? What has God called me to be or do?” This is what most of us wrestle with when we become followers of Jesus Christ. We have this deep desire for our lives to have meaning and to count for something. Discovering what God has called us to do starts with dedicating our lives to Him. Laying down everything that hinders us from living a life devoted to Jesus and His Word.
God reveals His plan or will for humankind in His Word. As Christ followers, we are called to trust the truth of God’s Word and that it will reveal how we need to live holy lives. Lives set apart, ready to please Him. Before Billy Graham yielded to God’s will for His life, he needed to trust the veracity of God’s Word. This is what he prayed as He consecrated His life to God,
“Father, I am going to accept this as Thy Word – by faith! I’m going to allow faith to go beyond my intellectual questions and doubts, and I will believe this to be Your inspired Word.”
God wants us to be fully yielded and submitted to His Word. As we submit to His Word, He will give us wisdom to understand His pathways to discovering His will and plan for our lives. The holy calling that He has ordained for us before the beginning of time.
Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. John 17:17 (ESV)
Reflection:
Will you submit to God’s Word so that He can reveal His will and plan for you to live a holy life?
Prayer:
Lord, help me trust the truth of Your Word so that You can lead me along the pathway to discovering Your will and plan for my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.
