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God's perfect will
(J. C. Philpot, "The
Living Sacrifice Presented" 1856)
"That good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God."
Romans 12:2
God's will is "perfect". In it, there is . . .
no spot,
no stain,
no weakness,
no error,
no instability.
It is and indeed must necessarily be as perfect as God
Himself; for it emanates from Him who is all perfection;
and is a discovery of His mind and character.
But when God's perfect will . . .
sets itself against our flesh,
thwarts our dearest hopes,
overturns our fondest schemes,
we cannot see that it is a perfect will. But rather, are
much disposed to fret, murmur, and rebel against it.
God's perfect will may . . .
snatch a child from your bosom;
strike down a dear husband;
tear from your arms a beloved wife;
strip you of all your worldly goods;
put your feet into a path of suffering;
lay you upon a bed of pain and languishing;
cast you into hot furnaces or overwhelming floods;
make your life almost a burden to yourself!
How can you, under circumstances so trying and
distressing as these, acknowledge and submit to
God's perfect will; and let it reign and
rule in
your heart without a murmur of resistance to it?
Look back and see how God's perfect will
has, in
previous instances, reigned supreme in all points,
for your good. It has ordered or overruled all
circumstances and all events, amid a complication
of difficulties in providence and grace. Nothing has
happened to your injury; but all things have worked
together for your good.
Whatever we have lost, it was better for us that
it was taken away. Whatever . . .
property,
or comfort,
or friends,
or health,
or earthly happiness we have been deprived of,
it was better for us to lose, than to retain them.
Was your dear child taken away? It might be
to teach you resignation to God's sacred will.
Has a dear partner been snatched from your
embrace? It was that God might be your better
Partner and undying Friend.
Was any portion of your worldly substance taken
away? It was that you might be taught to live a
life of faith in the providence of God.
Have your fondest schemes been marred; your
youthful hopes blighted; and you pierced in the
warmest affections of your heart? It was . . .
to remove an idol,
to dethrone a rival to Christ,
to crucify the object of earthly love,
so that a purer, holier, and more enduring
affection might be enshrined in its stead.
To tenderly embrace God's perfect will is
the grand object of all gospel discipline.
The ultimatum of gospel obedience is to lie
passive in His hand, and know no will but His.
"That good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God."
Romans 12:2
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