Choosing God's Will
The secret to saintliness is not the destruction of the will, but the submergence of it in the will of God.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes that choosing God's will is not a denial of our freedom but an exercise of it, recognizing our limitations in making the best choices. He highlights that true saintliness comes from submitting our will to God's, acknowledging that while we have the freedom to choose, we should seek the wisdom and goodness of God in our decisions. Tozer quotes Tennyson, illustrating that our wills can be aligned with God's will, leading to a life of obedience that is freely chosen rather than coerced. The essence of this choice is the acknowledgment of our need for divine guidance in our lives.
Text
No act that is done voluntarily is an abrogation of the freedom of will. If a man chooses the will of God he is not denying but exercising his right of choice. What he is doing is admitting that he is not good enough to desire the highest choice nor is he wise enough to make it, and he is for that reason asking Another who is both wise and good to make his choice for him. And for fallen man this is the ultimate use he should make of his freedom of will.
Tennyson saw this and wrote of Christ, Thou seemest human and divine, The highest, holiest manhood, Thou; Our wills are ours, we know not how; Our wills are ours, to make them Thine.
There is a lot of sound doctrine in these words--"Our wills are ours, to make them Thine." The secret of saintliness is not the destruction of the will but the submergence of it in the will of God. The true saint is one who acknowledges that he possesses from God the gift of freedom. He knows that he will never be cudgled into obedience nor wheedled like a petulant child into doing the will of God; he knows that these methods are unworthy both of God and of his own soul. He knows he is free to make any choice he will, and with that knowledge he chooses forever the blessed will of God.
Sermon Outline
- The Freedom of Will
- The Ultimate Use of Freedom
- The Secret of Saintliness
- The True Saint
- Recognizing the freedom to choose
- Choosing the will of God
Key Quotes
“Our wills are ours, to make them Thine.” — A.W. Tozer
“The secret of saintliness is not the destruction of the will but the submergence of it in the will of God.” — A.W. Tozer
“He knows he is free to make any choice he will, and with that knowledge he chooses forever the blessed will of God.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Recognize that you have the freedom to choose and make voluntary decisions.
- Acknowledge your need for guidance and submerge your will in God's will.
- True obedience is voluntary and cannot be achieved through force or coercion.