9-1-2015

        Good Morning All!!                 

          Matthew 6:10; “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”  

    I remember having a discussion one night many, many years ago with a few friends at college.  Of course, as college age men, the discussion quickly turned to college age women.  One of the guys was relating a story that did not bode well for the future of the relationship with the young lady he was dating.  He said the last three times that they went out on a date were very confusing.  The first time, he picked her up went and ate pizza then went to a movie.  When they got back, he asked her if she had fun and she told him that she really wanted chicken and then go to one of the clubs and go dancing.  The next time, he asked her what she wanted to do.  She said she didn’t care so he suggested getting some chicken and going to the park.  She didn’t feel like that.  He tried going to nice supper; she really wasn’t dressed for that.  How about just staying in and watching TV?  She had hoped to go to a play but watching TV was good enough.  The third time she told him she wanted to do what he wanted to do; they went to a football game and she complained the whole time.

    We commiserated but after he left, we agreed their time together was coming to an end.  They couldn’t agree on what to do together.  He couldn’t figure out what she wanted and she would not meet him to figure it out.  In many ways, this was a battle of wills and neither could or would meet the other.  In this case, it was a question of two equal wills seeking balance.  Yet in our faith walk, we confess that God’s will is perfect while ours is not.  This is what we confess but is it what we live.

    It is the greatest challenge we face, to submit our will to God’s will.  We know God’s will is to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy but does our will suggest, “I need to do something else to ‘rest.’”  We know God’s will is to love our neighbor but do I have to really give something up to make sure his needs are met?  Our will struggles against God’s will on a regular basis with the devil telling you that your will is best for your life not God’s will.  It was this thought process that led Adam and Eve to disobey God and eat the fruit.  It is this thought process that leads to our destruction and sorrow.  Our way is almost always trouble.

    This is why Jesus instructs us to pray “Your will be done.”  We pray for God’s will to be done and we pray that God’s will is the one we choose.  We pray that we will come to see that God’s will is the best for us, even when we are convinced otherwise.  God calls us to follow his will.  We know the destruction that occurs when we follow our own will.  We know the pain.  Our hope for comfort comes from following, seeking and trusting God’s will and that it is done.

Father of all mercy; lead us to seek your will and to love only you.  Send your Spirit that I might know you better.  Guide me to walk in your path alone.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret