Read 1 Peter 2:15

It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. (1 Peter 2:15)

God’s Word clearly declares that certain things are not the will of God and never will be the will of God in the Christian life. It also clearly teaches that certain things are the will of God for the believer. We don’t have to pray to “find leading” on this. We only have to dig through the Scriptures to mine it for ourselves. Once unearthed, these truths sparkle like the richest ore or brightest gemstone.

This is solid, immutable, unchangeable, biblical, God-given truth. The unsaved will never understand it, nor should we try to make them live up to it. This is strictly the will of God for the child of God. While we may not know what the will of God is for the future, He has given us a list of requirements that are in His will for every believer:

• Obey your parents (Ephesians 6:1)
• If you marry, marry a Christian (1 Corinthians 7:39; 2 Corinthians 6:15)
• Work at an occupation (1 Thessalonians 4:11–12)
• Support your family (1 Timothy 5:8)
• Give to the Lord’s work and to the poor (2 Corinthians 8–9; Galatians 2:10)
• Rear your children by God’s standards (Ephesians 6:4)
• Meditate on the Scriptures (Psalm 1:2)
• Pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
• Have a joyful attitude (1 Thessalonians 5:16)
• Assemble for worship (Hebrews 10:25)
• Proclaim Christ (Acts 1:8)
• Set proper values (Colossians 3:2)
• Have a spirit of gratitude (Philippians 4:6)
• Display love (1 Corinthians 13)
• Accept people without prejudice (James 2:1–10)

And the list goes on and on. This is the will of God for your life as a child of God, no matter who you are or where you live. Nothing mysterious here! The better you get to know the Word of God, the less confusing is the will of God. Those who struggle the least with the will of God are those who know the Word of God best.

Taken from The Mystery of God's Will by Charles R. Swindoll. Copyright © 1999 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. Used by permission of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. www.harpercollinschristian.com