SERIOUS PEOPLE OF FAITH have the desire to know and do God’s will. Paul speaks of the renewing of our minds, and concludes, “Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Rom. 12:2c) The renewed mind is that of the mind of Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 2:16), and we know that Jesus’ commitment to do the will of God is unequalled in all history. But we are all subject to internal and external forces that sometimes find us falling short of the will of God. Even as we come to understand God’s will, even as we desire to do his will, we will sometimes falter. There are three responses to God’s will. The first two are our’s, and involve the ‘yes’ and the ‘no.’ The third is God’s response to our obedience.
Jonah knew the will of God, and said “no,” but finally, “yes.” “The word of the Lord came to Jonah. ‘Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it.’” (Jonah 1:1-2a) There were conflicting forces working in Jonah. He desired to serve the Lord, but he hated the Ninevites, who had been brutal enemies of Israel. So, he turned away from Nineveh and fled from God. “Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port.” (Jonah 1:3a) We know the story well. There is a great storm at sea, and all aboard fear for their lives. Next, all the sailors believe that someone aboard has offended their own particular god, and so lots are cast, and Jonah is revealed. Jonah, in an act of personal repentance, tells the captain to throw him overboard, but the sailors are reluctant until their efforts to row back to safety become impossible. So finally, they throw him overboard to appease their ‘gods.’ “But the Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.” (Jonah 1:4-17) Then, from “inside the fish,” Jonah prays. “In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry.” (Jonah 2:1-2) And then, God responds. “The Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.” (Jonah 2:10) Jonah goes into Nineveh and preaches the gospel. The entire great city-state repents, and is saved by God’s sovereign will.
Peter knew the will of God, and said “yes,” and “no,” and ultimately “yes.” His three denials of Jesus on the night of Jesus’ arrest were prophetically known to the Lord. He had chided Peter in a prior erratic action, and then gave him a mission Peter would only come to understand later. Jesus prays for him that “your faith may not fail,” and commands him, “And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:32b, c) Despite his ongoing inconsistencies, Peter becomes arguably the strongest of the Apostles, with an anointing over his leadership. He is the one that clarifies the coming of the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room at Pentecost (cf. Acts 2:14-36), concluding “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2: 38) And it is Peter who challenges the Sanhedrin. With young John by his side, he bravely counters the charges of the court priests. “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19-20) Peter is quickly establishing himself as the man Jesus appointed: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” (Matt. 16:18)
Brothers and sisters, let’s face this square on. Even as we are the people of God, we are people of both ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ This is common in our response to God’s will, even when we clearly know what that is. God would much prefer our immediate faithful obedience. “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” (1 Sam. 15:22) And yet, despite our faltering steps of faith, working within us is this will of God: “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.” (2 Cor. 5:15) God’s sovereign will worked in Jonah for God’s purposes, despite Jonah’s failure of will, and in fact, his complaints afterwards. (cf. Jonah 4:8-9) God’s sovereign will similarly worked in Peter’s life, and his sovereign will also work in our lives. His will allows us the freedom to say “yes” or “no,” and yet compels us continually towards “yes.” The way this works in us is that a faltering “yes” or a firm “no” immediately brings trials into our daily life; a straight-up “yes” is anointed, and the power of God works through us in our “yes” to accomplish the will of God. At the same time, then, the favor of God rests upon us, and we are at peace and clear in mind, emotion, and will. “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” (Isa. 26:3)
Q. What is my “yes” today?
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