Today's Passage - John 7:10-18

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english John 7: 10-18   ..... Jesus answered, "My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him."                  Seeking God's will is one of the most perplexing things in Christian living, but the Lord Jesus tells us clearly in verse 17 that anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether this teaching comes from God or whether they speak on their own. We often use our own methods to seek God's will, such as, many people teach us we need to pray to seek God's will, yet the more we pray the more we get confused. Someone say we need to read God's words, yet it seems today God is calling him after reading this verse, then it does not seem so after reading another verse tomorrow! Someone say you need to consult the spiritual elders, but after talking with them some would feel this way while the others would not think so.                  The Lord clearly tells us, although praying, reading the bible and consulting the spiritual elders are important, it is more important whether we have the right mind? When Isaiah saw the Lord sitting on the throne in a vision, he heard the Lord's calling: "Who can I send? Who will go for us?" Isaiah answered the Lord right away: "Lord, I'm here, please send me!" When Isaiah said those words, neither he knew God's plan for him nor where God would send him. He just offered himself first, when he had such aspirations, God then revealed to him the mind of God.                  Many times we feel unable to go and follow the will of God; and the main reason is our minds have yet been adjusted. We often tell the Lord: "Lord, tell us your plan! After thinking it over then we'll decide if we want to follow."  Praying, reading bibles and seeking elders' guidance would not help us because we are in bondage of our own thoughts. Brothers and sisters, if you want to know the will of God, the first thing is to set your mind to follow the will of God, once you have this mind-set, the will of God will reveal before you!                            Pray with Pastor Tong           Dear Lord, we pray that you open our hearts, willing to listen for your voices and to obey your words. Give us the mind to choose to follow such that we know your will in our everyday lives. We thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!