Pr Joshua Yong

2 Peter 3:9 - “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

The next aspect of God’s will is the desiderative will of God. The word “desiderative” describes a desire for something. Therefore, the desiderative will of God speaks of God’s desires. It reflects what pleases God and what does not. Christians, as children of God, will always long to do the things that please and delight their heavenly Father. Therefore, understanding God’s desires is very necessary for a right relationship with God.

1. Desire for the Salvation of the Lost

The Bible tells us God desires the salvation of the lost. 2 Peter 3:9 - “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” The desiderative will of God is based on the longsuffering and mercies of God. God has not yet destroyed the world, even though the world is full of wickedness and wicked men. The world today is just like the days of Sodom and Gomorrah, filled with immorality and depravity. Like Sodom and Gomorrah, the world deserves to be judged and destroyed. We remember how God was so longsuffering in dealing with Sodom. God was going to destroy Sodom because it was a city that was filled with wickedness. When Abraham pleaded with God for the righteous in Sodom, God promised to spare the city if there were only ten righteous in the city (Gen 18:23-32). When not even ten righteous were found, God sent two angels to rescue Lot and his family before destroying the city. God could have destroyed the city much earlier on, but God only destroyed Sodom after Lot was rescued from the city. Just like the days of Sodom, the world today seems ripe for judgment. But God is longsuffering because He does not desire that “any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

This reveals the heart of God to us. Judgment has been withheld because God is merciful and desires the lost to be saved. If God were to execute judgment the very moment a sinner sins, then no one can be saved. God’s desire is for sinners to repent and to come to salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. Ezekiel 33:11 tells us, “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” God does not take pleasure in the death and judgment of the wicked.

There are different ways that judgment may be executed. A person may execute judgment with glee and in a cold-hearted manner. But God does not execute judgment in this manner. God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked because His desire is always for the wicked to turn from their wickedness so that they might live. This is based on the goodness and mercies of God. God takes delight in showing mercy.

The desiderative will of God shows a loving and merciful God. This must move us to have the same love and passion for the lost and to tell the lost world of the Gospel. It also gives us great encouragement in witnessing and in evangelism because we know we are fulfilling God’s desire when we witness to the lost.

2. Desire for Holiness

God does not only desire for the lost to be saved. God desires that after salvation we should live holy lives that are pleasing unto Him. God desires for us to obey Him and be holy witnesses for Him.

The Bible tells us what God desires. If God requires and expects certain things from us but does not tell us exactly what He requires and what pleases Him, it would be impossible for us to fulfil them. It would be like parents who have certain expectations of their child but do not tell their child what those desires are. And when the child does not meet those unexpressed requirements, he is disciplined and scolded. We would say that such a relationship is vexing. Our God is not like that, for He has revealed what He desires of us. As our heavenly Father, He tells and shows us how we can delight and please Him.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 says, “3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.”

The Bible tells us that God desires us to live in holiness. This means that we are to live in a separate, distinct and different manner from the world. God is holy, and His desire is for us to be holy as well. If we know the Lord’s desire, we will avoid sin and wickedness. We must have a strong desire to pursue holiness because that is what the Lord desires.

When we live in holiness, we will shine brightly for the Lord Jesus Christ, and it will bring delight to God.

Conclusion

The different aspects of God’s will always work together harmoniously. God’s directive will, which is the providential workings of God in our lives, will never work without His desiderative will. God’s directive will is seen through circumstances that unfold. When we look at these circumstances, they can never contradict God’s desiderative will. God cannot direct us into something that does not please Him.

A child who loves his parents will always seek to do what pleases his parents. When we love our parents, we will not want to do anything that would displease or grieve them. Similarly, we as God’s children who love God will always seek to do what pleases our God; we will not want to do anything that displeases Him. When we understand God’s desiderative will, we can understand God’s heart and know what He desires. We will then be able to live in a manner that pleases God.