Not My Will

I have been doing a lot of pondering and meditating on Jesus these past few days (as I am sure most of you have), specifically about His relation to the cross in the light of what holiday we are celebrating today. And through my reflections on His sufferings, torment, and His ultimate victory, the quality that has struck me deepest is His complete surrender to God’s will. Let’s remember that Jesus was Himself God too, but yet He set aside His own preferences in order to obey His Father’s will, even when that meant the cruelest of deaths for Jesus.

Evidenced by the deep anguish is His voice in the Garden of Gethsemane, surrendering His will to God was a difficult and painful experience: “Then He said to them (the disciples), “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.” And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me: yet not as I will, but as You will.”” Matthew 26:38-39

Application for us lies in the question and demonstration of if our lives are lived following our own wills rather than God’s.  Am I daily taking up my cross and following Jesus, denying myself with all my desires, interests, and preferences? The answer to that should be revealed by what kind of life I live and who’s orders and interests I follow.

This mentality is not easy to apprehend, if fact, it goes against everything in us. The cross is heavy. But by the power of the Spirit, when we are weak He is made strong. Jesus has went before us and can sympathize with our weaknesses and frailties. He gives a much needed grace.

Making God’s interests our interests is the mindset we must come to in order to slip into the easy and light yoke with Christ and where we find rest for our souls. Come to Jesus... “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him take up his cross...” “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest...”

Like Christ’s suffering resulted in ultimate glory and praise, our suffering for the cross and denial of self results in glory. God has abundantly rewarded His Holy Son for the sacrifice Jesus made for God’s will. God is the great Rewarder and Comforter that He promises in His Word. And although final reward for us is presented when Jesus comes again, God is merciful in that He gives grace for the road; suppling rest for the soul, peace to the heart, and hope for the mind.

Let us come to Jesus this day and embrace His will for us, knowing full well of His promised rewards and the comforts that await us here and also in heaven where He is waiting for us.