The Mystery of the Will of God!

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.” – Ephesians 1:7-10 NIV

Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross as an atonement of our sins (Colossians 2:13-15) and God has given us eternal life through Christ Jesus (Hebrews 2:14-15). “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) This means that this has got nothing to do with our own righteousness but through the richness of God’s love, God’s mercy and God’s grace (Titus 3:3-7). The main reasons for this is that all of us have been created by God (Genesis 1:27) and He wants to restore everything back to normal—how God has intended the Garden of Eden and His eternal kingdom to look like (Genesis 1-2). “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17) Because of this, He is actually working within all of us as the Spirit of God (John 14:15-27) to glorify in His name in whatever ways are possible. “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” (Colossians 1:16-20)

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippiaans 2:6-11)

Although the Spirit of God is within all of us even if we do not know, it is our job to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ around. This is because this is part of the Great Commission that God has told Christians to do (Matthew 28:18-20). Thus, whether we are doing our ministry work or not, we ought to become ambassadors of Christ Jesus by bringing God’s message of the reconciliation to others (2 Corinthians 5:18-20) and by becoming His light to the world (Matthew 5:14-16). “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” (Romans 8:29-30) Jesus Christ wants us to become one, especially for those of us who believe in Him (John 17:20-26).

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. (Romans 12:4-9)

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:8-11)

As for me, I know that Christian-writing is the will of God for me, since the Holy Spirit overflows within me to write even though I do not think to write very seriously. However, I need to improve making the bridge between the Bible and our culture world. I know that I am in the Bible world due to the fact that I know a lot of the scriptures from the Bible, but just using the Bible verses, I am not able to bring them into our culture. What I mean is that they need to be in effect to our culture world. I actually realized this when one of my closest church member kept saying that I need to build a bridge between the Bible and our culture world. Thus, she lent me a book called “Turn the Key to Creativity and Preach More Effectively” by Beulah Wood. As I am reading this book, I realized that I have not used my creativity mindset, so I know what I need to improve on. Overall, God works in mysterious ways and He supplies what we need according to His glory and purpose, if we set our mind in the will (Romans 8:28), the kingdom (Matthew 7:21) and the glory of God (Colossians 3:3-4). “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17)