God’s will for you in Christ

We're often thinking about what God might do for us rather than what He might do in us.

Asking God to show us His will is usually asking for His help in making decisions. There's nothing wrong with that. God is not afraid of our questions. But when we ask Him to reveal His desires and delights for us, are we content to walk with Him through the "wheres" and "whats" of life? When we're thinking more about what God might do for us than what He might do in us, it's easy to lose sight of God Himself.

God is no fortune teller. He is not a genie. The goal should never be taking information from Him while disregarding His identity. Can He show us what is to come? Absolutely. Can He direct our feeble steps through this world? Certainly. But God cares more about transformation than information transfer. He cares more about relationship with you than revealing stuff to you. He is the Father. He is God. And He can be known.

God has revealed Himself to us, most fully in the incarnation of Christ. The author of Hebrews writes, "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power" (Hebrews 1:1-3a).

God took on flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). To see Christ is to see the Father (John 14:9). God is one being in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The triune God reveals Himself to us. To understand Him for who He is and to respond in repentance and faith is the greatest revelation we need. Nothing gets better than God showing us Himself. To have a growing relationship with God in Christ that lasts forever.

In Christ, we are free to ask God our questions. We can trust His wisdom in the "wheres" and "whats" of life. But we must never lose sight of Him. Relationship with God by grace through faith in Christ exceeds specific revelations from God every single time. And this relationship is transformative. God is very concerned about what He might do in us and not only what He might do for us.

The apostle Paul puts it like this in 1 Thessalonians 4:1-3: "Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality."

What good is it to know the details of life and miss what delights God the most? What good is it to know what God wants us to do and miss who He wants us to be? We need to think more about what pleases God and less about what pleases us.

What is God's will for you in Christ? The in Christ part of the question is most important. If you're not in Christ, I pray you'd be saved. Would you turn from your sin and place your faith in Jesus? Do you believe in the sufficiency of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection? 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

To be in Christ is to please God. We are found righteous in God's sight because of Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21). God's desire is for us to become more like Christ (Romans 8:29-30). God is accomplishing a great work in us. We're being sanctified.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Paul provides a succinct answer to the question, "What is God's will for you in Christ?" He writes, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Rejoice always.

The joy described by Paul in verse 16 is constant, but not circumstantial. It's to be experienced always, despite any and every circumstance.

The Thessalonian believers know this. In Acts 17, Paul had a short and difficult stent in Thessalonica. He was pushed out of the city. Then, after going to Berea, some Jews from Thessalonica came to bother him there too. But some of the Thessalonians believed. A church was planted there. Now, Paul writes a letter to the Thessalonians, and He is excited about their faith and endurance. He tells them to rejoice always.

Our greatest joy is found in the joy of Christ. In John 15:11, Jesus says, "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."

Psalm 43:4 says, "Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God."

In Galatians 5:22, Paul says joy is a fruit of the Spirit. To be in Christ is to be indwelt by the Spirit.

God's will for us in Christ is simply this: rejoice always. It's easier said than done. I'm not sure what your circumstances are in this season of your life. Maybe it's a great season. Maybe it's a hard one. But if you're in Christ, there's constant joy to be found, regardless of circumstances. God is faithful.

Pray constantly.

Paul continues in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 as he writes, "Pray without ceasing."

There is a close relationship between constant joy in Christ and constant prayer in Christ.

The constant prayer of Paul is evident in 1 Thessalonians (1:2; 3:10). What does it mean to pray constantly, to not stop praying?

It doesn't mean we must spend our entire lives with our hands folded and our knees on the floor praying. The idea Paul has in mind is to always remain prayerful. To adopt a habit of prayer, a continual posture of prayer. An ongoing conversation with God.

For example, I have a constant, ongoing line of communication open with my wife. She can call me anytime, anywhere. Day or night. We text throughout the day. She knows she can always talk to me, and I know I can do the same. Why? Because we have a close relationship. There's a posture of communication, constant conversation. That doesn't mean we literally talk to each other all day, every day. But there's a willingness to talk with one another, regardless of how convenient it is in the moment. 

To pray constantly is to understand our line of communication is always open with our heavenly Father. We should take advantage of it! A habit of our lives as Christ-followers should be prayerfulness. We can talk to God anytime, anywhere. Day or night. Good times, bad times. Always. Because in Christ, we have a genuine relationship with Him.

Give thanks in everything.

In verse 18 of 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul continues, "give thanks in all circumstances." 

If we're rejoicing in Christ always and praying in Christ constantly, won't we give thanks in everything? An ongoing, intentional gratitude is evident in 1 Thessalonians from Paul. And it's closely related to his joy and prayerfulness (1:2; 3:9-10).

What does it mean to give thanks to God?

We should be full of gratitude to know who God is, what He has accomplished, and what He will do. When we're in Christ, everything changes. There's real joy to be found. Relational, meaningful prayer to be experienced. Abundant thanks to be given. 

Colossians 3:17 says, "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

It's easier to give God thanks when life is going well than it is to give Him thanks when life is tough. But just as constant joy doesn't mean circumstantial joy and constant prayer is to happen in the ups and downs of life, thanking God in everything includes good circumstances and bad.

Our circumstances change, but God's character never does. In Christ, our joy is constant. Our prayers are constant. Our thanksgiving is constant. In Christ, we should be characterized by such constants in a chaotic world. 

The way of the world is perpetual unhappiness. Rejecting God, not knowing real joy.

The way of the world is prayerlessness. Self-sufficiency, straining and striving.

The way of the world is discontentment. Jealousy, bitterness, not thankful.

Beware of such things. They lead to a life of misery. Life apart from Christ leads to death. But in Christ, there's eternal life (Romans 6:23).

May God continue His work in us, and we know He is (Philippians 1:6). Let's not lose sight of the gospel. When it comes to God's will, we all have specific questions. Details we'd love to know. Don't be afraid to ask God and trust Him with your life. But don't miss Him in the process. There's nothing better than being in Christ and on mission for Him (Matthew 28:19-20).

Rejoice always. Pray constantly. Give thanks in everything. This is God's will for you in Christ.