John 7:17 “If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.”

Reception to the Gospel, and to the Bible in general, greatly depends on heart attitude. Jesus’ words here are very telling: “If anyone chooses to do God’s will.” I have known people who were actively set on NOT doing God’s will! It is when our hearts are tender toward our heavenly Father that the Bible becomes delicious, so to speak, a never-ending feast that nourishes and encourages and directs and uplifts and any of a number of other good things. However, the fact that it also convicts of sin makes some people shy away from it, because they love their sin. Jesus famously stated that very clearly in John 3:19-21. The Pharisees who wanted to kill Jesus, and ultimately succeeded, loved their traditions because those traditions didn’t touch their hearts, and their hearts had become shut off from God. We have been given free will, but we choose rebellion against God to our own destruction. The only logical, good choice is to seek the will of our Creator to do it, and not try to circumvent it for some perverted pleasure.

I have known this as fact all my life, but I haven’t always lived by it. I’m as human as anyone else! However, over the years I have indeed learned that God’s will is indeed “good, acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2) The longer I have walked with Him, the easier it has become to recognize His will and to choose to do it. That is a huge blessing! As it says in Hebrews, “Solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” (Hebrews 5:14) The more I choose to do God’s will, the easier it is to do it.

Father, thank You for this reminder. It’s appropriate in the very hectic day this promises to be! I do pray that everything would go exactly according to Your plan, and that everyone involved would be relaxed and rejoice to flow with Your Spirit, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!