KNOWING GOD'S "WON'T"

Born again believers are constantly wanting to know the will of the Lord for their lives.  Many ask themselves, "What Would Jesus Do?" in trying to say or do the right thing.  After all, as children of God, we want to act like the only begotten Son of God, right?  And unlike the religious person who wants to know God's will in order to avoid His wrath, true believers want to know because we want to show our gratitude for what He has done, is doing, and promised He would do forever!  But I cannot remember anyone asking "What Won't Jesus Do?"  It is as though we subconsciously know that our nature gravitates to doing those things He would not do, and that we are experts at failing to walk according to God's will.

This morning's devotion in Our Daily Bread referred to a church tradition which divides sin into seven categories:  pride, anger, envy, impurity, gluttony, slothfulness, and greed.  Although the order often varies, secular lists name them:  pride, envy, gluttony, lust, anger, greed, and sloth.  God, on the other hand, has His own list of seven things He considers abominable.  Solomon wrote, "These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him:   A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among (the or one's) brethren" (Prov. 6:16-19).

For illustrating my point, imagine that Jesus is still physically walking around on our planet.  Jesus won't be prideful; He is humble (Phil. 2:5-8)!  He won't be a liar; He is Truth (Jn. 14:6)!  He won't kill; He is Life (Jn. 10:10)!  He won't make up stuff; He tells it like it is (Jn. 6:63; 8:26, 28; 8:38; 12:50; 14:10; etc.)!  He won't be mischievous; He will not sin (Heb. 4:15)!  He won't be a false witness; He won't be a witness at all - He is the Judge (Rev. 16:5; 19:2, 11; 20:12-13)!  And He will not sow discord among His brethren, the Church, for its unity is His desire (Jn. 17:11, 21-23)!

Doing His will automatically means not doing His won'ts!