According To The Will Of God

"Today's Devotion" For March 10, 2005

Read: Matthew 26:36-46
Hebrews 10:1-18

ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD

"'My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may Your will be done.'"(Mt.26:42)

The history of the United States is marked by a rugged individualism and streak of intense independence. Personal freedom is at the heart of the republic's existence. Rugged individualism, intense independence, and personal freedom have been the hallmarks of the American psyche and dream. Our national documents, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution provide for the basis for a cultural atmosphere of free expression verbally, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. While there's a constant debate as to the origin these cultural expressions of freedom, historically it's hard to ignore that, at least for the United States, they are the very reason that Christians fled "the old country" in order to seek religious freedom, and all it's attendant freedoms, on the shores of the New World. One could make an argument for the fact that those who settled our shores wanted to be somewhere where they could believe and do what would make them happy.

In our day, that same desire to go our own way, make our own way, and accomplish things in our own way is still very much alive--even in spite of some folks' desire to make government bigger and more intrusive in people's lives. It's been the cultural history of the American people to make sacrifices for themselves and their families, sacrifices for the welfare of others in need of our assistance, and sacrifices for the nation, but they won't allow anyone to tell them what they should be doing.

What's at the heart of such thinking can be extremely dangerous in our relationships with others. While it might be dangerous to tell others that we'll do things in the way we think is best, it's even more dangerous spiritually, for we're also quite ready to tell God that we'll do things and believe things the way we think is best. Our sinful nature puts us at odds with God. From the moment Adam and Eve disobeyed God's Will in the Garden of Eden, all of humanity (not just us Americans) became embroiled in a feud with the Creator over whose will should be done. The enmity that exists by nature between us and God constitutes the single most dangerous situation in the life of every human being on the face of the earth. In the face of our disobedience and animosity toward God, He established a way for that enmity to be dispelled and His wrath toward Sin to be atoned. God's command that sacrifices be offered for sin, as an act of atonement, gave those who trusted Him the opportunity to be blessed by His grace, mercy, and forgiveness. In these faithful acts of atonement the relationship between God and His children grew, yet, even with this opportunity for forgiveness commanded by God, people still were disobedient to Him. Their will was not His Will, because His Will required obedience and faith.

In His infinite wisdom, His unfailing mercy, and His incredible grace and love, God took ever more definitive action. He sent His own Son, Jesus, the promised Messiah, to take up our cause, obey His Will perfectly in our place, as our Substitute, and suffer and die on the Cross in order to remove our sins from us. He came to bring us back to the Father. God's wrath over sin was to be His lot, as He was to bear the burden of the sins of the whole world for all times and places on His shoulders. In Gethsemane, Jesus' prayer reflects the pain and agony of that burden, and His hope that there could be, perhaps, another way. Trusting His Father totally, He recognized that the only way to go was the Father's way. His Will would be done and Jesus was always prepared to do so. In His obedience, we are saved. In His obedience, we are once more in our Father's loving arms. In His obedience, our sins are forgiven and we have the hope of heaven. In His obedience, we learn obedience and the prayer, "Your will be done." In that prayer is freedom, independence, hope, and peace. We are in the hands of God.

Prayer: Precious Lord Jesus Christ, You struggled mightily with the agony of the Father's wrath over Sin. Your disciples couldn't bear that agony and were unable to keep watch with You. I, too, am not able to "keep watch with You." The burden of sin and my willingness to be disobedient keep me from "watching with You." Yet, despite failing to watch with You, You still went to the Cross for me. You still took my sins upon Yourself. You paid the price I should pay for my sins. Lead me to follow Your example in praying, "Your Will be done." Help me to be obedient to the Father's Will and lead me to share Your tremendous sacrifice for sins with others. Hear my prayer, Lord Jesus. Amen.
****************************************************

--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.