Sharpening Your Body, Mind, Heart, Spirit & Soul
I attend Bible Study quite frequently. And lately, the use of two words has puzzled me—”free will.” These two words are paired with the famous phrase “but God.” If you’re familiar with the phrase “but God,” you know God has done the impossible. He has done the exact opposite of what has been expected. And when said, it’s a praise report. A testimony to the power of God. I have several “but God” stories. I’m sure you do too.
Therefore, I’m puzzled when I hear the pairing of these words “But God gives us free will,” particularly when the response is in opposition to obeying God’s command. Yes, God gives us free will. According to John Piper, the founder of www.desiringgod.org, there are three ways to define free will: popular, biblical, and technical. I’m sticking with the biblical definition because I was in Bible Study hearing this phrase for the fifth or sixth time.
Follow me, if you will. This is not a long post, it’s not Bible Study it’s a moment of sharpening.
God created us in his image. In his image we have the ability to make moral choices: “to love or not to love, to obey or not to obey God.” Remember, Adam and Eve had a choice to eat the fruit or not. (Genesis 3). What about King Saul in 1 Samuel 15? God wants Saul to have success in the war. God gives Saul instructions and Saul chooses to partially obey God. When he’s reprimanded, his words go something like this: “But God gave me free will. I did what he said but made the choice to do what I felt was best for The Lord.”
God’s response is clear “I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has refused to obey my command” (1 Samuel 15:10).
Can you see this rebuttal “But God gave us free will” when it comes to doing what we want to do? Our decisions are determined by what’s in our hearts, our inner nature, will, thought, and emotions. Free will is our decision to choose what we believe is best for life.
But here’s the disconnect for me when it comes to “But God gives us free will,” in response to obeying God’s command. You see, I attend Bible Study and I read the Bible to understand what type of life God wants me to live according to his will, not my will.
I can be rebellious. I am obstinate. And there are moments, I want what I want. But when I am reading God’s word for his will, he corrects my behavior and my attitude teaching me that his will is best for my life. However, if I’m constantly pushing back and making an excuse “But God gave me free will,” every time the word convicts my heart what am I learning. How am I learning to do what God wants? How does my situation get better, my life improves? Romans 13:2 tells us “whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.”
Yes, we have free will, but as we grow in Christ, and go with him our freedom should not be to indulge our personal satisfaction but to be obedient so God can show us what to do, bless the plans and purpose he has for our lives, more abundantly than we can imagine.
Until Next Time,
Stay safe. Wash your hands & trust God knows what’s best.
Angela