by Rev Douglas Brauner

God’s Will Is Revealed in Jesus

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.”
Psalm 115:3 English Standard Version

We don’t know who wrote Psalm 115. Some believe that it was written for the dedication of the second temple in Jerusalem, the temple that was built after the people of Israel returned from exile in Babylon. It’s was to be a responsively sung psalm by the people and the temple workers.

It is the people who sing the first eight verses and they sing something with which we might not be too comfortable. “Our God…does all that he pleases.” Is this the same thing as saying God does whatever he wants, whenever he wants regardless of how it affects humanity? Is that what we pray for in the Lord’s Prayer when ask for his will to be done?

Though I’m much more comfortable than I use to be in not understanding why good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people, through Jesus God shows us what his will is for humanity.

His will is to save us from sin.

His will is to save us from death.

His will is to lead us into his presence.

All of these statements reflect the will of God as it’s revealed to us in the Bible. God desires to save you from sin. God desires to save you from death. God desires to lead you into his presence. He does all of this by willingly giving up his Son for you and for me on the cross.

That’s God’s will. That’s what pleases him.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado