Observation and Obedience: The Proverbs were written as divine guidance and wise counsel for us to contemplate and incorporate into our lives. They reveal God’s nature, His character, His idea of how things work and how His blessings are poured out. As we seek to apply them to our lives we should see them as treasures of wisdom and knowledge that are hidden in Christ.
Matthew 26: 39-44 is an honest, gut wrenching picture of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane asking His Father to show him another way besides the cross…..if at all possible. Three times he asks, is there any other way? He knew what was ahead of Him. The pain, the humiliation, the betrayal. But…..He also knew His Father’s Love, not only for Him but for all mankind. Jesus, being completely human, not wanting to go through the unimaginable, wasn’t afraid to show His heart to His Father and ask that he be spared the hard, painful death of the cross.
How many of us have found ourselves crying out asking to be spared what is right in front of us? Please God, not my job. Please God, not my marriage. Please God, not cancer. Please God, not my child. PLEASE GOD! There’s nothing wrong with asking. There’s no shame in pleading. Jesus asked three times.
What we need to see in this hidden treasure of Christ’s example is exactly what this Proverb is talking about. Jesus showed His spirit of trust and obedience when He also surrendered three times to the will of His Father…. “My Father, if there is any way, get me out of this. But please, not what I want. You, what do you want?” Again he prayed, “My Father, if there is no other way than this, drinking this cup to the dregs, I’m ready. Do it your way.”
Our plans, in our eyes would be good without the pain and suffering. But God weighs the spirit. Ann Voskamp articulates it beautifully when she says “We greedily take what looks like it’s good from God’s hand and then thrash wild to escape when God gives from His hand what feels bad.” It FEELS bad, but God wastes NOTHING. God sees the bigger picture. God’s Plan is Perfect because of His UNFAILING LOVE for US.
Jesus knew that Love. He walked in it and so He was able to commit his work, his journey and his suffering to the will and plans of His Father. He knew His Father’s plan had already been established and Jesus ultimately TRUSTED His Life to His Father’s plan.
For us to totally commit ourselves in the sense of both total trust and submission to the will of God, we need to live Loved. We need to LIVE LOVED! I NEED TO LIVE LOVED! He will fulfill His righteous plans for our lives because He Loves US.
Be encouraged today to live honest before Your God and not ashamed. He knows what you’re thinking, feeling and desiring. He Loves YOU anyway. Be willing to submit your plans, your days, your life to Him because you are secure in the knowledge that YOU ARE LOVED BY GOD!
Prayer: Father, thank you for lifting the burdens of our selfish plans and ways. Lord forgive us for not accepting whatever you choose to give because we don’t want the hard, we only want the good. Help our hearts and eyes to be opened to the greater graces of comfort, mercy, forgiveness, patience and courage that we experience in our suffering. Lord in every hard situation help us to say “I’m ready, because I am loved. Do it your way.” You waste nothing. Thank You Jesus for your example and for your sacrifice. Amen
Encouragement: “All is grace because all is being transfigured by God for His Glory. God is always good and I AM ALWAYS LOVED” Ann Voskamp
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