TCH MINI-STUDY 25
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO!
A few days ago, I was playing tennis on some tennis
courts near my house, and a young man [a recent high school graduate, probable 18 years of age] who was playing tennis with several
of his friends, approached me and asked for some pointers on how to serve a tennis ball. After giving him a couple minutes of suggestions,
the young man unexpectedly and bluntly asked me what it took for him to be happy. He added that his real passion was training individuals
in the art of kick boxing, and asked me if he pursued his passion, would he be happy. After asking the young man if he believed in
Jesus Christ and God, to which he responded yes, I told the young man that, in my opinion, he would be the most happy and fulfilled
if he would first pray and seek God's will for his life, and then follow God's will. The young man was apparently serious about his
quest, since the next thing he asked was, how can I hear and know God's voice and will. After listening to what I had told him, this
young tennis player left the tennis courts with the most serious look of need and contemplation on his face. Since his needs appeared
to be so great, it is probable that this young man eventually prayed about his concerns, and sought the will of the Lord.
There
are times in which we all need God's guidance and help. We all have questions or problems from time to time which we do not know how
to handle or know what to do. The question may be about career, home, family, health, marriage, children, job, or a thousand other
possibilities. Since the scriptures instruct us that God is omniscient and omnipotent, it seems sensible that the best way to get
answers to our life questions is to seek God's guidance and help in our pursuit of direction and fulfillment. Fortunately, the scriptures
give us significant instruction and guidance on how to get answers to our questions and needs, and to seek and do God's will. Some
of the more pertinent verses are listed below.
GOD IS ALL KNOWING: He knows what is best for you and me.
And thou, Solomon
my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts,
and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will
cast thee off for ever (1 Chron 28:9).
Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect
in knowledge? (Job 37:16).
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments,
and his ways past finding out! (Rom 11:33).
But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are
of more value than many sparrows (Luke 12:7).
For the word [Greek is logos; i.e., Jesus Christ] of God is quick, and powerful,
and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and
is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all
things are naked [apparent, known, revealed] and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do (Heb 4:12-13).
GOD IS ALL
POWERFUL: God can do anything, even that which seems impossible to us.
But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this
is impossible; but with God all things are possible (Mat 19:26).
I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can
be withholden from thee (Job 42:2).
For with God nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:37).
Behold, I am the LORD, the God
of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? (Jer 32:27).
SEEK THE GUIDANCE AND WILL OF GOD: Since God knows everything,
including what is best for you and me, and is also all powerful and can do anything, why not ask him what we need to know, and what
He thinks we should do?
Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face (Psa
5:8).
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given
him (James 1:5).
To the chief Musician upon Neginah, A Psalm of David. Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end
of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I (Psa 61:1-2).
Trust
in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct
thy paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. The meek will he guide
in judgment: and the meek [humble, receptive] will he teach his way (Psa 25:8-9).
Now the God of peace, that brought again from
the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every
good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever
and ever. Amen (Heb 13:20-21).
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart (Jer 29:13).
And
keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies,
as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself (1 Kings
2:3).
DO WHAT GOD TELLS YOU TO DO: We receive best outcome for our life questions when we find out what God wants us to do, and
then do it. There is no joy in life as great as the joy we have from seeking and doing the will of God. Jesus told His own disciples,My meat [food, nourishment, substance that gives me strength and life] is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work (John
4:34). Doing the will of Him that called us can be the source of our strength and life, as well.
His mother saith unto the servants,Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it (John 2:5).
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient [did
not his own will, but did the will of the Heavenly Father] unto death, even the death of the cross (Php 2:8).
Wherefore I beseech
you that ye would confirm your love toward him. For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be
obedient in all things (2 Cor 2:8-9).
It is the spirit that quickeneth [brings strength and life]; the flesh profiteth nothing:the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are [result in life] life (John 6:63).
It is the spirit that quickeneth;
the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are [the speaking of the Holy] spirit, and they are [bring, result
in] life (John 6:63).
DO NOT BE AFRAID, BUT BE STRONG AND STEADFAST IN FOLLOWING GOD'S WILL FOR US: We should be diligent in
pursuit of the grace of God available to us through faith in Christ Jesus.
In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what
man can do unto me (Psa 56:11).
Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it
is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee (Deu 31:6).
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a
good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest (Jos 1:9).
Thou
therefore, my son, be strong in the grace [the unmerited favor that God has given you] that is in Christ Jesus (2 Tim 2:1).
THE CHRISTIAN HERALD
A
Judeo-Christian Bible Study
NO CONDEMNATION TO THEM WHICH ARE
IN CHRIST JESUS
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be (Romans 8:1-7).
"My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these things,
I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise,
with a multitude that kept holyday. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I
shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance"
(Psalms 42:3-5).
THE GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL
"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I
preached unto
you, which also ye have received,
and wherein ye stand; By which
also ye are
saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed
in vain. For
I delivered unto you first of all
that which I also received, how that Christ died for our
sins according to the scriptures; And that
he
was buried, and
that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And
that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After
that, he was seen of above five
hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep”
(1
Corinthians 15:1-6).
