Giant Icebergs
 
“So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
–Ephesians 5:17 (NAS)
 
If you fly over the North Atlantic Ocean, you will see awesome icebergs floating in those frigid waters. If you look carefully, you’ll notice a pattern develop: small icebergs move in one direction, while gigantic icebergs move in another. Why does this happen? Because the surface winds drive the small icebergs, while deep and powerful ocean currents control the large ones.
 
There is a lesson in this for us. Lives are driven by various forces. “Small  lives” are  driven  to  and  fro  by  the  surface  winds  of change, petty problems, disagreeable circumstances, self- centeredness, and the like (Eph 4:14). They are overwhelmed and disoriented by what whirls around, resulting in aimless drifting. On the other hand, “great lives” aren’t detoured by the petty gusts of surface winds. Their foundations run deep in God’s timeless purposes (cf. Col 3:16).
 
How are we sheltered from the whims of the surface winds and grounded  in  the  strong  currents  of   God’s  purpose?  By understanding His eternal will and ordering our lives around it. There’s no better place to start doing that than with the Bible verses that explicitly state that something is “the will of God,” including being:
 
Saved – Trusting in Jesus’ work on the cross and accepting Him as your personal Forgiver and Leader (1 Tim 2:3-4; cf. 2 Pet 3:9).
 
Spirit-Filled – Consistently yielding your life to the controlling influence of the Holy Spirit through the Word (Eph 5:17-18; cf.  Gal 5:16, 25; Eph 4:30; Col 3:16; 1 Thess 5:19).
 
Sanctified – Progressive separation from sin and transformation into Christ’s image (1 Thess 4:3; cf. Rom 8:29-30; Eph 4:13-16).
 
Submissive – Voluntarily and humbly aligning yourself under God and His appointed authorities (1 Pet 2:13-15; cf. 5:5-10; Rom 13:1-7; Eph 5:21-6:9; Heb 13:17).
 
Suffering for His Sake – Accepting (temporary!) unpleasant consequences for doing right rather than suffering for doing wrong, which demonstrates Christ’s lordship in your life (1 Pet 3:15-17).
 
Saying Thanks – Being grateful to God in all circumstances, no matter how delightful or dismal (1 Thess 5:18; cf. Phil 4:4-7). Great lives are lived by those who are saved, Spirit-filled, sanctified, submissive, suffering, and saying thanks!
 
For Discussion: Look up at least the primary verse for each element of God’s will and discuss how obeying that would make a “gigantic life.”