HOW DO I DECIDE

WHAT IS AND

WHAT IS NOT

THE LORD’S WILL?

"Daily Heavenly Manna"

COMPANION

"This is my Son the Beloved, in whom I delight, BE HEARKENING TO HIM." -#Mt 17:5 (Rotherham)

Do I Put God First—Self Last IN EVERY MATTER? (Z. ‘16 p. 279)

Jesus said, "I seek no mine own will but the will of the Father which hath sent me." #Joh 5:30

"I delight to do Thy will, oh my God!" #Ps 40:8

God’s Word commands, "Purify your hearts." #Jas 4:8.

Pastor Russell comments, "Get them in such condition that they will seek first, last and always the will of God."

A Manna comment (Feb. 21) reads: "It is not for the true spiritual Israelite ** even to express a choice; but to look to the Lord for guidance."

DO I NEXT SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES TO LEARN

What God Said About It?

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." #2Ti 3:16-17. And Pastor Russell explains that "May be perfect" means "perfectly informed."

God’s Word commands, "All things put to the test—What is comely hold ye fast." #1Th 5:21 Rotherham.

Pastor Russell says we are to hold fast "that which stands the test of the Divine Word." And elsewhere states, "The Christian, especially if he has been long in the school of Christ, should have a very sensitive conscience; and from the word of God he should be able to draw the weights by which he would balance all the questions of the affairs of life, and determine with almost absolute accuracy their right or their pleasing or displeasing to the Lord." Z. ‘16, p. 279.

God’s Word warns, "Ye therefore beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye, also being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness." #2Pe 3:17. Pastor Russell’s comment on "Being led away" reads, "Seduced from the fixed statements of the divine Word though sympathy, or the influence of some one held in respect or esteem." And in reviewing the siftings of the harvest, he states, "But I well knew that people in general are not close reasoners, and that with the cares of life upon them, they are too apt to accept a seeming interpretation , without a critical examination of the words of the Scriptures and their context." -"For there are always people with whom everything resolves itself into personality, rivalry, and party-spirit , and such cannot understand others who take a higher and nobler view, and who think always and only of the Truth, regardless of persons ." Z. ‘16, p. 173

God’s Word commends the Bereans as "More noble than those in Thessalonica in that they welcomed the word with all readiness of mind, daily searching the Scriptures whether these things could be so." #Ac 17:11 Rotherham.

Pastor Russell declares that safety depends largely on our doing the same thing. "

DO I THEN TAKE INTO ACCOUNT GOD’S PROVIDENCES?

It is written, "Who in God’s power are being guarded," #1Pe 1:5 Rotherham.

Pastor Rusell’s comment on "power" reads, "God’s Word and providences."

God’s Word, speaking prophetically of Jesus, states, "From the brook will he drink on the way ."# Ps 110:7 (Leeser.) Pastor Russell’s comment reads, "Wisdom gained by experience, " and adds, "He did what it is now our privilege to do."

God’s Word declares that, "A people who will not discern must be ruined." #Hos 4:14 Rotherham. (King James version reads "fall.") Pastor Russell in writing of this law of cause and effect explains that "God holds men accountable , not only for what they know, but for what they might know if they would apply their hearts unto instruction, —for the lessons which experience (their own and others) is designed to teach, and if men fail to head the lessons of experience, or willfully neglect or spurn its precepts, they must suffer the consequences." D. 49—last sentence.

DO I MAKE IT A SUBJECT OF PRAYER?

God’s Word enjoins, "If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God." #Jas 1:5

"May Thy rule come into my heart more and more and Thy will be done in my mortal body." The Vow.

HOW TO DECIDE THE LORD’S WILL

As to how we may decide as to what is and what is not the Lord’s way for us, we find that the rule which George Muller tells us he followed is so nearly the one which we follow ourself that we take pleasure in quoting it—

"I SEEK IN THE BEGINNING TO GET MY HEART IN SUCH A STATE THAT IT HAS NO WILL OF ITS OWN IN REGARD TO A GIVEN MATTER. NINE-TENTHS OF THE DIFFICULTIES ARE OVERCOME WHEN OUR HEARTS ARE READY TO DO THE LORD’S WILL, WHATEVER IT MAY BE. Having done this, I do not leave the result to feeling or simple impression. If I do so, I make myself liable to a great delusion. I SEEK THE WILL or spirit OF GOD THROUGH or in connection with, THE WORD OF GOD. The Spirit and the Word must be combined. If I look to the Spirit alone, without the Word, I lay myself open to great delusions also. If the holy Spirit guides us at all, he will do it according to the Scriptures, and never contrary to them. NEXT, I TAKE INTO ACCOUNT PROVIDENTIAL CIRCUMSTANCES. These often plainly indicate God’s will, in connection with his Word and his Spirit. I ASK GOD IN PRAYER TO REVEAL HIS WILL TO ME ARIGHT. Thus by the prayer to God, the study of the Word, and reflection, I come to deliberate judgment according to the best of my knowledge and opportunity, and, if my mind is thus at peace, I proceed accordingly." —Z. ‘09 :267.