Bible Reading: Romans 12:1-2
Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do. Romans 12:2
If you listen for long to Christian teens and young adults talking about God’s will, you’ll notice they’re usually looking for help in the mind-boggling major decisions of life. They’re trying to answer questions like these:
Career: Should I major in golf—or underwater basket weaving?
Transportation: Is it better to buy a car without a muffler—or without brakes?
Friendships: Am I supposed to room with the girl who snores when she sleeps—or the one who drools when she eats?
Work: Does God want me to wash dishes—or scrub toilets?
School: Should I go study in the library—or go take a nap?
You don’t have to wait until you’re older and come across complex puzzles like those to solve. God has a plan for your life that starts today. And the bulk of his will is stuff you can know for sure right now.
Do you remember what God’s “universal will” is? It’s the part of his will that’s for everyone. It’s clear. It’s beyond argument. It’s spelled out in his Word.
Let’s be clear on four of the big points God expects all of us to follow:
Trust Christ. The most crucial piece of God’s will for all of us is that we trust Christ as Savior and Lord. God wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth (see 1 Timothy 2:3-4).
Submit totally to Christ. Once we trust Christ, God’s will for us is to submit our life to him. He wants us to be living sacrifices (see Romans 12:1).
Obey parents. God’s no-doubt-about-it will for every son or daughter is that we live in obedience to our parents (see Ephesians 6:1).
Share our faith. God has told us he wants us to go and make disciples in all the world—not just across the ocean but with those across the hall and the lunch table at school (see Matthew 28:19).
Whatever other puzzles we need to solve in life, these are just a few of the things we know are always right to do. When we want to do God’s will, those are the places God wants us to start. Figuring out his universal will is no sweat. God has made the biggest points of his will totally clear!
TALK: Can you think of some other examples of God’s universal will—commands he expects all Christians to follow?
PRAY: God, thanks for making so much of your will absolutely clear. Help us to live up to what we know.
ACT: Do you have a tough time obeying any of God’s obvious commands? Talk to God about it.
