David's Heart - Part 2

David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became commander over them. And there were with him about four hundred men. And David went from there to Mizpeh of Moab. And he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and my mother stay with you, till I know what God will do for me.” And he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him all the time that David was in the stronghold. (1 Samuel 22:1-4 ESV). David learned how to wait on God. Sometimes I have illustrated God’s will with three circles, one small, encircled by a larger, which is encircled by a still larger circle. Inside the smallest circle, I write the “Individual Will of God.” These are the things in life that God allows you lots of latitude in the decision. Do you want Fruit Loops or Cheerios for breakfast? What color car will you buy? Everything is important to God, but in some things God gives us much more latitude. In the middle circle, I write the “Moral Will of God.” This is that will of God for your life that determines what type of character you have. God ultimately wants you to be like Jesus in all that you do, so this is His moral will for your life. Included here are things like should you lie or should you tell the truth? This may be the way you treat those around you. Could you be within God’s moral will for your life, for instance, if you cheated on your wife? There is a definite moral will of God for your life, but you have still have some latitude in the decision. That is why I think this will of God is the most important for you to concentrate on each day. It will determine what your Christian character looks like. Finally, in the largest circle, simply because it surrounds everything else, I write the “Sovereign Will of God.” This is God’s ultimate will. It will happen just as He wants it to happen. You cannot change it. It is Sovereign! An example of this will of God is your salvation. God said if you believe in Jesus and accept Him as your Savior you will be saved. Period! God said He will never “leave you nor forsake you”. That is His Sovereign will. Also, He said He would one day take us to Heaven if we were saved. It’s not going to change. Theology has a big word for this concept, “immutable.” David told the king he was going to wait until he understood God’s will for his life. Today’s verse might be interpreted, “until I learn what God’s will is for me”. David wanted to wait until he knew God’s will. This was a heart that pleased God. God does not force us to choose to be like Jesus. He does communicate that will to us and then we may choose. What’s your choice going to be today?