Sat 11 July - What is the centrality of God's will?

The group started by discussing the responsibility of looking after the earth and creation. Is nature/animals important to God and what will be redeemed back to God from creation?

Matthew 7:21
Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, BUT ONLY THOSE who DOES the will of my Father who is in heaven

Matthew 24:14
And the gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

How do we get to do what God wants to see done?
Start with the irreducible minimum (if this is done, then what follows), which is to love your neighbor – to love the Lord your God, is the greatest commandment. Love is a means to something else but what?

The will of God for us:
1. Present your body as a living sacrifice (1 Corin 3:16-17, 6:20; Rom 12:1-2)
2. Make your body holy (set apart) (2 Corin 7:1)
3. Make yourself acceptable to God (Rom 12:1)
4. Do not conform to the world (Rom 12:1)
5. Be transformed from the world (Rom 12:2)
6. Render your reasonable service (Rom 12:1)
7. For all to come to the knowledge of truth (Hebr 4:12, 2 Tim 3:16)
8. All men to be saved (John 3:16, Mark 16:15, 2 Pet 3:9)

Within these points there is a cycle (opposed to a start and finish) and we can most probably order it more or less as 7,2,6,1,4,5,3,8. In view of Romans 1 –11, chapter 12 follows. Get on the journey/process where the irreducible minimum is laying down your life. If you’r not in the journey the chances are you not in God’s will. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Can you do all things through Christ?

Are we all called? Are we not all seed of Abraham? Jesus said as I have been sent, so I send you. Pick up your cross. When you do something, make service the centrality of your action.