The authentic disciples of Jesus

[7angel]

Gospel
Mt 7:21-29 (http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/bible/matthew/matthew7.htm#v21)

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the Kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day,
‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?
Did we not drive out demons in your name?
Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’
Then I will declare to them solemnly,
‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’

The question is; how we will know the will of God if we do not read the bible and we make the comparison with our attitudes and those of the others? - it does not stop to judge but to make the things that to us the Lord requests, to even advise
Paul Says; I can have many knowledge, to speak the language of the angels, can make many sacrifices as to throw my body to the flames,.. but if I do not have love, they do not serve to me ... and Jesus says; Free you received it, free you have to give it "" .. if by the grace of the Lord I do miracles and I take advantage of them to obtain fame and power, they do not serve to me


“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. Says Jesus

[Zecryphon]

Gospel
Mt 7:21-29 (http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/bible/matthew/matthew7.htm#v21)

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the Kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day,
‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?
Did we not drive out demons in your name?
Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’
Then I will declare to them solemnly,
‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’

The question is; how we will know the will of God if we do not read the bible and we make the comparison with our attitudes and those of the others? - it does not stop to judge but to make the things that to us the Lord requests, to even advise
Paul Says; I can have many knowledge, to speak the language of the angels, can make many sacrifices as to throw my body to the flames,.. but if I do not have love, they do not serve to me ... and Jesus says; Free you received it, free you have to give it "" .. if by the grace of the Lord I do miracles and I take advantage of them to obtain fame and power, they do not serve to me


“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. Says Jesus
If you want to know the will of God, read your Bible and pray. The Holy Spirit will lead you where you need to go. That's His job.

[DeanM]

Knowing the will of God is a bit tricky to me. I admit that I have wondered about this as well. It's an excellent question that you pose here.

When I was young, I remember attending a wake for a child of a friend's family. I think the child was only a few months old.

In attendance were friends, many of whom were from our church, and our priest.

One of the guests remarked to the parents that the child was taken because it was the will of God.

Our priest frowned and disagreed. He said that it was the will of God for the parents to be able to have chidren, and that that was a blessing from the Lord. He also said that God's will was always to offer us a chance.

I never fully understood that, but like to think that the priest was right, and that God's will does not include hardship, such as losing a child.

So, for me, the question is a two-fold dilemma. First, does God's will include hardship (It very well may, but I prefer to think that it does not), and secondly, if we are all living according to God's plan, would that mean that the hardships are planned by God?

I know it sounds as if the two questions are the same, but to me, they are different enough to be taken independantly.

Because I am not completely sure how this works, I certainly don't think that I will ever understand God's will.

One child may live while another one may die. Countries with more advanced medical care have better statistics in this regard. Is this also part of God's will?

My parents tell me that i survived as a baby thanks to a complete blood transfusion within moments of my birth. Without it, I would have died. This is one more reason that I think God's will is for us all to have an opportunity to live. Some of us are able to make it farther than others, with little to do with our own physical capabilities.

If I were born 20 years before I was, i would have died at birth. If my friend's family's child were born 20 years later, they could have lived.

I know that Einstein once said that God does not play dice with the universe. I'm not so sure he was right.

My reasoning is based solely on my personal beliefs taken from my observations. I have no scripture to back me up. I know it would be very easy to pick appart my stand on the issue. I welcome anyone's insights on this subject, but please tell me nicely. I've had a hard day. Thanks.

[rocklife]

Knowing the will of God is a bit tricky to me. I admit that I have wondered about this as well. It's an excellent question that you pose here.

When I was young, I remember attending a wake for a child of a friend's family. I think the child was only a few months old.

In attendance were friends, many of whom were from our church, and our priest.

One of the guests remarked to the parents that the child was taken because it was the will of God.

Our priest frowned and disagreed. He said that it was the will of God for the parents to be able to have chidren, and that that was a blessing from the Lord. He also said that God's will was always to offer us a chance.

I never fully understood that, but like to think that the priest was right, and that God's will does not include hardship, such as losing a child.

So, for me, the question is a two-fold dilemma. First, does God's will include hardship (It very well may, but I prefer to think that it does not), that is a hard part of life. I don't fully understand all God's ways, but the bible says hardships can be used for good, to build character, give strength, and even give hope, Romans 5:3-5 "but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. I am not sure what the priest meant you were talking with, but I take comfort from King David's words when his own baby grew sick and died, 2 Samuel 12:23 "I will go to him," having hope to see his baby in heaven, I also share that hope.

and secondly, if we are all living according to God's plan, would that mean that the hardships are planned by God?I believe they can be, but I don't really say that I know the whole mind of God. The bible does seem to say God is in control of everything though. He may not be planning and purposing to harm us, but can use those things to even turn them around and test us. Remember Job, God did not kill his family and make him sick, but He did allow Satan to do that, and God did not plan all that, Satan did. God turned that evil into a blessing for Job though, and I am sure Job will also see all his loved ones in heaven too. God offers us hope.

I know it sounds as if the two questions are the same, but to me, they are different enough to be taken independantly.

Because I am not completely sure how this works, I certainly don't think that I will ever understand God's will.

One child may live while another one may die. Countries with more advanced medical care have better statistics in this regard. Is this also part of God's will? Jesus says in the Bible that we will always have the poor among us, and I hope He will help give more and more comfort to those poor, He also gives the poor a blessing in the bible, but His ways are hard to fully understand (for me anyway). sin and death is a part of life, but I don't know exactly what God's judgments and plans are about so much suffering, I just know sin and satan are part of that also unfortunately. And christians should do our best to help those in need and suffering,

My parents tell me that i survived as a baby thanks to a complete blood transfusion within moments of my birth. Without it, I would have died. This is one more reason that I think God's will is for us all to have an opportunity to live. Some of us are able to make it farther than others, with little to do with our own physical capabilities.

If I were born 20 years before I was, i would have died at birth. If my friend's family's child were born 20 years later, they could have lived.

I know that Einstein once said that God does not play dice with the universe. I'm not so sure he was right.

My reasoning is based solely on my personal beliefs taken from my observations. I have no scripture to back me up. I know it would be very easy to pick appart my stand on the issue. I welcome anyone's insights on this subject, but please tell me nicely. I've had a hard day. Thanks.
I don't know how to answer all your questions. We also can take comfort that God is good, and He knows there is injustice, remember how His only son was treated, He was killed unjustly. God knows all these terrible things are going on. I have to believe God is good, that there is good even though it seems so much evil is running amok right now, and there are unfair things. God is my only hope, and His Scriptures are also encouraging, I urge daily Bible readings for more study. God bless

[amadeus2]

If a person loves God and is called by God then...

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Rom 8:28

[Zecryphon]

Knowing the will of God is a bit tricky to me. I admit that I have wondered about this as well. It's an excellent question that you pose here.

When I was young, I remember attending a wake for a child of a friend's family. I think the child was only a few months old.

In attendance were friends, many of whom were from our church, and our priest.

One of the guests remarked to the parents that the child was taken because it was the will of God.

Our priest frowned and disagreed. He said that it was the will of God for the parents to be able to have chidren, and that that was a blessing from the Lord. He also said that God's will was always to offer us a chance.

I never fully understood that, but like to think that the priest was right, and that God's will does not include hardship, such as losing a child.

So, for me, the question is a two-fold dilemma. First, does God's will include hardship (It very well may, but I prefer to think that it does not), and secondly, if we are all living according to God's plan, would that mean that the hardships are planned by God?

I know it sounds as if the two questions are the same, but to me, they are different enough to be taken independantly.

Because I am not completely sure how this works, I certainly don't think that I will ever understand God's will.

One child may live while another one may die. Countries with more advanced medical care have better statistics in this regard. Is this also part of God's will?

My parents tell me that i survived as a baby thanks to a complete blood transfusion within moments of my birth. Without it, I would have died. This is one more reason that I think God's will is for us all to have an opportunity to live. Some of us are able to make it farther than others, with little to do with our own physical capabilities.

If I were born 20 years before I was, i would have died at birth. If my friend's family's child were born 20 years later, they could have lived.

I know that Einstein once said that God does not play dice with the universe. I'm not so sure he was right.

My reasoning is based solely on my personal beliefs taken from my observations. I have no scripture to back me up. I know it would be very easy to pick appart my stand on the issue. I welcome anyone's insights on this subject, but please tell me nicely. I've had a hard day. Thanks.
"First, does God's will include hardship (It very well may, but I prefer to think that it does not),"

It does. Look at how the followers of Jesus suffered hardships and tribulations. Paul was one of the most notable, not to mention Peter and the other disciples.

"and secondly, if we are all living according to God's plan, would that mean that the hardships are planned by God?"

Maybe. I mean we do have freewill and do make choices that affect the course of our lives. It is possible that we have made a bad choice that leads to a hardship. Now I believe God will use those hardships in our lives to teach us valuable lessons. Or if He has deliberately put a hardship upon us, He has done so to teach us how to deal with this hardship so we will be able to deal with a bigger hardship that is yet to come. It was once said that "anyone who thinks that after coming to Jesus life is gonna be a bed of roses, has never read the New Testament."

[DeanM]

Thank you Rocklife. Your words make sense and help me as I try to sort this all out.

Blessings

[Selznak]

If you want to know the will of God, read your Bible and pray. The Holy Spirit will lead you where you need to go. That's His job.

Excellent advice! Without those two simple things, I don't think that it is possible for the Christian to truly know God's will.

[7angel]

Psalms
Chapter 34 2 I will bless the LORD at all times; praise shall be always in my mouth. 3 My soul will glory in the LORD that the poor may hear and be glad. 4 Magnify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together. 5 I sought the LORD, who answered me, delivered me from all my fears. 6 Look to God that you may be radiant with joy and your faces may not blush for shame. 7 In my misfortune I called, the LORD heard and saved me from all distress. 8 The angel of the LORD, who encamps with them, delivers all who fear God. 9 Learn to savor how good the LORD is; happy are those who take refuge in him.

[Giver]

Knowing the will of God is a bit tricky to me. I admit that I have wondered about this as well. It's an excellent question that you pose here.

When I was young, I remember attending a wake for a child of a friend's family. I think the child was only a few months old.

In attendance were friends, many of whom were from our church, and our priest.

One of the guests remarked to the parents that the child was taken because it was the will of God.

Our priest frowned and disagreed. He said that it was the will of God for the parents to be able to have chidren, and that that was a blessing from the Lord. He also said that God's will was always to offer us a chance.

I never fully understood that, but like to think that the priest was right, and that God's will does not include hardship, such as losing a child.

So, for me, the question is a two-fold dilemma. First, does God's will include hardship (It very well may, but I prefer to think that it does not), and secondly, if we are all living according to God's plan, would that mean that the hardships are planned by God?

I know it sounds as if the two questions are the same, but to me, they are different enough to be taken independantly.

Because I am not completely sure how this works, I certainly don't think that I will ever understand God's will.

One child may live while another one may die. Countries with more advanced medical care have better statistics in this regard. Is this also part of God's will?

My parents tell me that i survived as a baby thanks to a complete blood transfusion within moments of my birth. Without it, I would have died. This is one more reason that I think God's will is for us all to have an opportunity to live. Some of us are able to make it farther than others, with little to do with our own physical capabilities.

If I were born 20 years before I was, i would have died at birth. If my friend's family's child were born 20 years later, they could have lived.

I know that Einstein once said that God does not play dice with the universe. I'm not so sure he was right.

My reasoning is based solely on my personal beliefs taken from my observations. I have no scripture to back me up. I know it would be very easy to pick appart my stand on the issue. I welcome anyone's insights on this subject, but please tell me nicely. I've had a hard day. Thanks.
Jesus once told me to quit trying to figure him out, and just follow him.

How can we know God’s will? We can only know and do what he tells us in the Word of God, and personally.

[james415]

I use the seed analogy in 1 Corinthians 15 to help understand our worldly suffering.

We are like a seed. The shell is our worldly body that must be striped away (destroyed) before the spirit within can emerge and be given the new heavenly body. The suffering and losses we experience here on earth is God at work cracking our shell. A shell that most have a hard time letting go of.