The Will of God vs. the Will of the Gentiles

Published March 12, 2008

Our daughter came home from college this semester to stay. She has changed her major and will start at a local college in the fall. That is OK with me but what made her change her mind and leave the University that she was at I don’t know. She hasn’t told me and to date I haven’t asked. I figured she would tell me in due time. However, one of things that I have heard is that she didn’t want to be around the party scene anymore. She did tell me that she realized this when a friend from high school showed up for a weekend visit with two BIG bottles of vodka and wanted to know where the parties were at. You see, she just wasn’t raised that way. You may think that is prudish or weird or so not with it. But I know something that you don’t know or you don’t want to admit. We are not our own!
When you confessed with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believed in your heart that God raised him from the dead you were purchased by the blood of Christ. Eph. 1:13&14 You became a new creation in Christ Jesus (Col. 1:27) and you have a new home (II Cor. 5:1&2) and a new family (Gal. 10:6). Look at I Peter 3 and 4. When you read this notice that it doesn’t recommend that you do these things nor does it say do these things when it is convenient. What it does say is to do them!
I Peter 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind (among those born again), having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
You want to change your life today for the better? Just do what God is telling you and your life WILL change! Why? Because God is faithful to His word. Because circumstances don’t change until you change. You are where you are because of your believing and you will be tomorrow where your believing takes you. In other words if you want to change your life Read the Bible (the part that is addressed to you) and do what it says. God is faithful to His word.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
Wow! This sounds like it was written today! Our colleges today are a culture of what God is saying not to do.
How many many times have Christians been mocked and ridiculed because they didn’t do “the will of the Gentiles (unbelievers, God rejecters). How many times have young Christians been coerced into doing things they knew weren’t right because they didn’t understand that they are to live by the standard that God set and not the standard that the Gentiles set.
5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
This is a very small portion of the Word of God but look how rich just this little section is in instruction and guidance. How many young people would have been save from the traps that they have fallen into if they only knew what you have just read.
The opinion of people doesn’t matter when it comes to living your life what matters is God’s opinion and your walk with and for Him.
Get away from the will of the Gentiles and get into the soothing salve of the walk with God.
This is accomplished by doing what God tells you to do via His Word.
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

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