Receiving CHRIST 3 (At the Center of God’s Will)

As Christians, we don’t box in the air, our commitment and sacrifice are not in vain, they are to a specific course.

My academic mentor often tells me, "I know what we are doing". We often sit for long hours, working on something or trying to brainstorm through a situation, or he gives me a task or the other, which may seem too bulky or not so novel. But then he adds we know what we are doing. In my observation, when compared to my peers, there is a significant difference. Other academic mentors will always tell me to stay with him and get all he has to offer. The point is, there is a generic will for which there is an end, and to that end, there are specific wills.

Jesus is the topic, in Matthew’s account, there was an event I found interesting.  

¹² But having heard that John was delivered up, he departed into Galilee: ¹³ and having left Nazareth, he went and dwelt at Capernaum, which is on the sea-side in the borders of Zabulon and Nepthalim, ¹⁴ that that might be fulfilled which was spoken through Esaias the prophet, saying, ¹⁵ Land of Zabulon and land of Nepthalim, way of [the] sea beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations: ¹⁶ --the people sitting in darkness has seen a great light, and to those sitting in [the] country and shadow of death, to them has light sprung up. ¹⁷ From that time began Jesus to preach and to say, Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn nigh. (Matthew 4:12-17)

Before this event, Jesus was baptized by John. At the baptism, we see great details of the coherence between Christ and John. John knew who he was in full, John was living in the hope of his coming because we always see John talking about the coming of Christ. Again, John’s ministry made way for the ministry of Christ. And more so, they were relatives of the earthly family and by God’s family, they were also a family.  There are a whole lot of layers of commonness and purpose stacked between Christ and John. But we see that as soon as John was apprehended, Christ didn’t do anything about the situation, instead, He left the coast. This however didn’t go well with John because we see in chapter 11 of Matthew:

But John, having heard in the prison the works of the Christ, sent by his disciples, ³ and said to him, Art *thou* the coming [one]? or are we to wait for another? (Matthew 11:2-3)

The emphasis of our consideration is who is Christ and what life have we received by Him. When Christ left the coast, he didn’t leave John, (that was John’s view). Christ went to do the will of God. So, while John thought he left, God knows he went. The will of God was the center of Christ’s life. All other things and persons revolve around God’s will. It’s a hard saying, however, because great men and philosophers would advise that we keep productive relationships. John’s relationship with Christ wasn’t toxic or destructive, but Christ choose the will and work of God over John. When Christ was probed by the disciples of John, He had this to say.

⁴ And Jesus answering said to them, Go, report to John what ye hear and see. ⁵ Blind [men] see and lame walk; lepers are cleansed, and deaf hear; and dead are raised, and poor have glad tidings preached to them: ⁶ and blessed is whosoever shall not be offended in me. ⁷ But as they went [away], Jesus began to say to the crowds concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? a reed moved about by the wind? ⁸ But what went ye out to see? a man clothed in delicate raiment? behold, those who wear delicate things are in the houses of kings. ⁹ But what went ye out to see? a prophet? Yea, I say to you, and more than a prophet: ¹⁰ this is he of whom it is written, Behold, *I* send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee. ¹¹ Verily I say to you, that there is not arisen among [the] born of women a greater than John the baptist. (Matthew 11:4-11)

He never for once underrated the place of John. He knew in full the ministry and calling of John. But to Christ, there is only one direction, the direction of the will of God. When the disciples of John asked him, he told them in summary, go and tell John that I’m in the will of God.

It is a big issue that most Christians today make God’s will a trivialized and ambiguous issue. The truth, however, is that there is no life of Christ outside the will of God. The Bible never mentioned a second that Christ existed outside God’s will. When we receive Christ, we embrace the totality of God’s will. It becomes the center of our livelihood and existence. It can be general; it can also be specific.

Generically, the will of God is the end he plans for our lives as Christians. The glorification and exaltation of all the saints. (What a glorious thought and imagination). I can’t help but cast my hope on that glorious end, for which we will obtain by patience and longsuffering. Also specifically, there is the will of God in our daily life and season. The will of God in Christ is to save all men, including John, however, the will of God at the capture of John was for Christ to go to a different people and do the works of God amongst them.

In the different spheres of our lives as Christians, God knows what He is doing. He is sure of the destination, and He knows just what we need to arrive there. As men and women that have received Christ, we should pay attention to and embrace the specific will(s) of God in our life per moment. Do not live by doing what is good, live in the will of God, in marriage, at work, in association, in all things, ask and find God’s will and abide therein. If we do not walk in the will of God, then we haven't received the totality of Christ. 

We keep companies as long as they are in God’s will for us. (Bro Gbile Akanni).

It’s my birthday today, pray for me.
It’s the season of God’s will. 

We will continue to explore the basics of receiving Christ in future posts.