Walking Worthy: Understanding God's Will and Our Calling in Christ

Understanding God's Will and Our Calling in Christ

Interpreting Scripture based on personal understanding alone often limits its depth and distorts its message. Paul’s epistles, in particular, illuminate a calling far greater than individual pursuits or subjective experiences. They reveal God’s eternal purpose in Christ and the glorious vocation of the Body of Christ, which extends into the ages to come. Walking worthy of this calling requires us to align with God’s will as revealed in His Word—not according to our imaginations or personal definitions but according to His purpose for His Son and His Church.

To walk worthy, we must first understand what we have been called to. Paul makes it clear that this calling is not about fulfilling a vague or mystical idea of God’s will. Instead, the will of God is an objective truth revealed in Scripture, centered in Christ. Ephesians 1:9 declares that God has made known the mystery of His will—a purpose set before the foundation of the world and destined for fulfillment in the ages to come when Christ will fill all things. Our role in this plan is not about personal ambition or subjective experiences but about fulfilling our collective vocation as the Body of Christ.

Unfortunately, religion often distorts this truth. Terms like "the will of God" and "the calling of God" are frequently misused, stripped of their biblical context, and reduced to personal quests or emotional experiences. Believers are urged to seek God’s will in signs, feelings, or circumstances while neglecting the clear and objective revelation of His will in Scripture. This misunderstanding leads many to engage in religious activities and rituals that have no foundation in God’s eternal purpose, creating a form of paganism rooted in human superstition rather than biblical truth.

Paul’s teachings in Ephesians remind us that God’s will is not about subjective interpretations or individual desires. It is about His grand design to bring all things under the headship of Christ. Ephesians repeatedly emphasizes the concept of “being filled” or “filled,” highlighting God’s desire for believers to be filled with His Spirit, purpose, and truth. The good works we are called to walk in are not self-defined but are those that God prepared beforehand as part of His eternal plan. As Ephesians 2:10 states, "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works."

Paul’s encounter with Christ underscores the importance of knowing and aligning with God’s will. When Ananias was sent to Paul, he declared that Paul was chosen to know God’s will and to be His witness to all men. This was no small calling; it was a central part of God’s purpose. Paul’s epistles reveal this purpose in great detail, providing the Church with the knowledge needed to walk worthy of its calling. Ignoring this revealed truth leads to confusion and a misdirected focus on individualism rather than the collective role of the Body of Christ.

The vocation of the Body of Christ is not confined to the present age. It extends into the ages to come, where it will reign under Christ. This eternal perspective requires us to interpret Scripture not through the lens of our personal lives but in the context of God’s greater plan. Walking worthy of our calling involves understanding and embracing this grand design, which brings glory to Christ and fulfills God’s eternal purpose.

When we limit Scripture to our own understanding, we miss the magnitude of God’s plan. His will is not about fitting His purpose into our lives but about conforming us to His will as members of Christ’s Body. This requires spiritual discernment, growth in the knowledge of His will, and a focus on His glory rather than our own ambitions. As Paul prayed in Colossians 1:9-10, we are to be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding so that we may walk worthy of the Lord and fully please Him.

Compiled from a teaching by Paul Lucas