Dear MAGA: 20250525 Open Topic

This Rejoice & Praise God Sunday Open Thread, with full respect to those who worship God on the Sabbath, is a place to reaffirm our worship of our Creator, our Father, our King Eternal.

It’s also a place to read, post, and discuss news that is worth knowing and sharing. Please post links to any news stories that you use as sources or quote from.

In the QTree, we’re a friendly and civil lot. We encourage free speech and the open exchange and civil discussion of different ideas. Topics aren’t constrained, and sound logic is highly encouraged, all built on a solid foundation of truth and established facts.

We have a policy of mutual respect, shown by civility. Civility encourages discussions, promotes objectivity and rational thought in discourse, and camaraderie in the participants – characteristics we strive toward in our Q Tree community.

Please show respect and consideration for our fellow QTreepers. Before hitting the “post” button, please proofread your post and make sure your opinion addresses the issue only, and does not confront or denigrate the poster. Keep to the topic – avoid “you” and “your”. Here in The Q Tree, personal attacks, name-calling, ridicule, insults, baiting, and other conduct for which a penalty flag would be thrown are VERBOTEN.

In The Q Tree, we’re compatriots, sitting around the campfire, roasting hot dogs, making s’mores, and discussing, agreeing, and disagreeing about whatever interests us. This board will remain a home for those who seek respectful conversations.

Please also consider the Guidelines for posting and discussion printed here: 
https://www.theqtree.com/2019/01/01/dear-maga-open-topic-20190101/


On this day and every day –

God is in Control
. . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . .
Keep Looking Up


Hopefully, every Sunday, we can find something here that will build us up a little . . . give us a smile . . . and add some joy or peace, very much needed in all our lives.

“This day is holy to the Lord your God;
do not mourn nor weep.” . . .
“Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet,
and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared;
for this day is holy to our Lord.
Do not sorrow,
for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”


God’s Will

Many people are interested in knowing God’s Will for their life. But most people are confused about God’s Will because the term is used to describe three different ideas or concepts.

Most sincere Christians would say they want to do God’s Will, particularly when they need to make a big decision. Unfortunately, knowing the Will of God seems like an elusive mystery to most people. We are often confused about how to be wise, “understanding what the Will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17).

This confusion is partly due to three different concepts all being referred to as “God’s Will.” They are God’s “Perfect Will,” His “Proscribed Will” (which is revealed in His Word), and His “Predetermined Will” (or Plan).

1. God’s Perfect Will
The first “Will of God” is the idea that God may have a “Perfect Will” for our lives. Many preachers and teachers talk about “God’s Perfect Will.” So, Christians often wonder whether there is a “Perfect Will of God” for their lives, and if there is, how they can know it. They may be especially concerned about this when they have a big decision to make.

The Greek original reads “that you may discern what the will of God is, the good and acceptable and perfect.” And teleios (the Greek word translated as “perfect”) means complete or mature.

The command in Romans 12:2 is not to do the perfect will of God. It is to stop conforming to the image of the world. Instead, we are exhorted to allow ourselves to be continually transformed by the renewing of our minds through the work of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Then we will be able to understand God’s Will by what is good, spiritually mature and pleasing to God.

So, “God’s Perfect Will” can be better understood as God’s Preferred Will, that which is good, spiritually mature and pleasing to God. The Preferred Will of God is what God desires. But even though God is omnipotent, His Preferred Will is often ignored or rejected in this sin cursed world. God allows this as a natural consequence of creating us in His image with a free will.

2. God’s Proscribed Will
If only there were a way to know what God desires so we could do it. . . well, there is. God has revealed it to us in His Word, the Bible.

God’s second Will is “His Proscribed Will.” God has clearly revealed many do’s and don’ts (positive precepts and prohibitions), and other guiding principles in His Word to show us how He wants us to live.

These principles are often referred to as the “Moral” or “Revealed” Will of God. God does not want people to sin; He desires love, holiness, and obedience instead.

The best-known prohibitions in the Bible are the 8 “Thou shalt not . . .” commands in the Ten Commandments. Doing anything the Bible has expressly prohibited is sin.

The Bible contains hundreds of positive precepts (commands) as well. Failing to do what God has commanded us to do is also sin.

The Two Greatest Commandments:
Of all the commands in the Bible, Jesus revealed the two greatest commands which are the most important to obey.

The Greatest Commandment:
Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. (Deuteronomy 6:5; 10:12; 11:1, 13; 13:3; 30:6; Joshua 22:5; Matthew 22:37-38; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27)

The Second Greatest Commandment:
Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. (Leviticus 19:18, 34; Matthew 19:19; 22:39-40; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27; Romans 13:8-10; James 2:8)

The great news is that the “Two Greatest Commandments” provide practical principles by which we can discern God’s Will. For all the law is fulfilled . . . in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.(Galations 5:14)

1.  We should love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. This is Godlike ‘agape’ love, which is a choice, not based on feeling. This precept means God should take first place in your life relative to everything else. You should love God more than your family, friends, possessions, and even your own life. If you truly love God, you will want to do the things that please Him.

2.   We should love our neighbor as ourselves. This also refers to Godlike ‘agape’ love, and it applies to all people (as in the story Jesus told of “the good Samaritan”), not just the people who live near you. If you love others as yourself, you will treat them the way you want to be treated; with kindness, generosity and respect.

While the two greatest commandments set a high bar, they are simple Principles that are easy to remember and understand. If we live by these two ‘Positive Precepts,’ we won’t need to worry about remembering all the rest.

As we seek to love God with all our heart, mind and soul, we should remember that Jesus said, “If ye love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15), and “He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me” (John 14:21). He also taught us that the way to abide in His love was by keeping His commandments (John 15:10).

So, the way we please God is by loving Him enough to keep His Proscribed Will revealed in the Bible, which includes loving Him with all our heart, mind and soul, and loving others as ourselves.

3. God’s Predetermined Will
God’s third Will is “His Predetermined Will,” which can be thought of as “God’s Plan.” God’s predetermined plan is certain and unchanging. Before God created the world, He had already determined everything that would happen.

Nothing has ever caught God by surprise. Before “the beginning,” He already knew everything that would be.

God is purposeful; His plan is not random. Everything He predetermined was chosen for a reason. So, “God’s Predetermined Will” is sometimes referred to as His “Purpose.” This purposeful Plan of God is what people are often referring to when they talk about predestination, destiny, or “God’s Sovereign Will.”

Because God has already predetermined everything that will happen, we cannot deviate from His plan. His predetermined plan will be accomplished. Everything we will ever think, say and do was already built into God’s plan before He spoke the world into existence.

We are still responsible for our thoughts and actions, because God created us in His image, with a free will and gave us the ability to make choices. However, our all-knowing God already knew us before He created the universe.

Before time began, by His ‘foreknowledge’, God already knew how we would use our free will, including every choice we would make. God’s omnipotent power and omniscient wisdom enabled Him to weave all our choices (good and bad) into His predetermined plan.

Whatever you do, God has already woven you into His Plan

You don’t have to worry about living God’s Predetermined Will because you can’t miss it. Whether you choose good or evil, love God or reject God, whatever you do, God has already woven you into His Plan.

Summary

God does not want us to be unwise, “but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17). So don’t be foolish, but understand God’s Will and behave wisely.
xhttps://www.revealedtruth.com/doctrine/gods-3-wills/


I think the above can be more easily summarized and remembered by the following . . . and without giving names to the three concepts:

God’s Will (Three concepts)
1. What God would like to see happen (but does not enforce).
2. What is written in God’s Word (positive actions and prohibitions).
3. What actually does happen (planned and controlled or permitted by God).

Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin?
And not one of them falls to the ground
apart from your Father’s will.