All to Him I Owe

The second verse of the hymn “Rejoice in the Lord” contains a very important truth. The text says, “I bowed to the will of the Master that day; Then peace came…”

Most of us think that peace should precede submission to the will of God. However, the hymn and Scripture both teach that submission to the will of God precedes peace.

So how does a person discern the will of God? Romans 12:1-2 gives a two-step plan for knowing the will of God. It says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Step #1 is PRESENTATION: The phrase “living sacrifice” indicates that this will require a decision of our will. It is a decision to present ourselves to God with a sense of brokenness. Every time I read the phrase “holy, acceptable unto God,” I am reminded of a similar phrase found in Psalm 51:17: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” The presentation that God does not despise is the presentation of a broken and contrite heart. Knowing the will of God starts with brokenness, which is simply yieldedness. It is a heart that is bent and yielded to do whatever God wants you to do. Remember, God does not reveal His will for our consideration. He reveals His will for our obedience.

Step #2 is TRANSFORMATION: It is not transformation that comes through simple discipline or outward conformity. It is the transformation that comes from the renewing of the mind. The renewing of the mind happens through regular, consistent exposure to the Word of God. The Word of God shows us the ways of God helping us understand the will of God. God has chosen the written Word of God to be His primary source of revelation to us. A person who is seldom in it will struggle to have a good grasp of God’s will.

Now that we know better how to discern God’s will, we have to ask ourselves if we are willing to “bow to the will of the Master today?” The peace most of us desperately desire only comes when we have submitted to the will of God.