God's Will (and Won't)

By: Angela Gillaspie © January 2004, All Rights Reserved

Why are you here? In the big picture, what's your purpose? To be a Godly parent, a good provider, to do God's will? To make sure your children don't grow up to be like Ted Bundy or Kim Kardashian? Or is it to be patient with inept drivers or go through a whole day without smacking either yourself or someone else?

When my pastor asked this question, my response was to be a good mom and write things to lift folks up. Yeah, that's all nice and good, but his sermon taught me that God's will isn't something as simple as a goal, but it's to be a better Christian because the definition of Christian is "Christ-like."

What is being Christ-like? Often I've found that people don't like Christians. Unfortunately many Christians have the stigma of being judgmental folks that condemn non-Christians for something that comes natural: sinning. These Christians don't realize that they are sinning themselves; Jesus said, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Hoo boy, that's hard to do. Sometimes right after one becomes a Christian, he feels that it's his job to personally point out all the shortcomings and sins of everyone around him. God bless the new Christian, but pray for him too! This reminds me of the bumper sticker: "Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven."

Christians should try to be Christ-like all the time, like when your hubby leaves the toilet seat up or someone doesn't wear a mask (or does). God gives us free will to choose what path to take. You can choose to judge someone, but what about that time you lied to avoid a confrontation? Is one sin worse than the other or are your sins not really sins, but 'whoopsies?'

You make the decision, that's your free will, but praying before the decision opens your heart and mind to God's will. After your decision, you will still be you. Will you like the You that walks away after that decision? As for me, I learned that to achieve my goal of being a good mom and to have creative inspiration, I ask myself, "Am I being Christ-like…"

• If my grandkids throw spaghetti at one another and I remind them (and myself), "You're a gift from God!" sometimes repeatedly and loudly? Maybe.
• If I insult people? Definitely not.
• If I use my experiences to remind folks that God is in control? Yes!

God put us here for one purpose - to do His will - to be Christ-like. And this means that I should pray for that person riding my bumper and not do something rash, who knows, it might be the preacher!