Easter has come, He is RISEN! What a cause for joy and rejoicing! For all of us who call Jesus Christ, “Lord”, and choose to follow Him, this is a truth that will take a lifetime to fully understand and live out!
Truly, God’s will WAS done, just not the way the people at that time expected nor wanted. Even Jesus (being fully human as well as fully God) agonized as He anticipated the road to Calvary and death on a cross. He cried out, “O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will!” (Matthew 26:9b) His suffering was of such an infinitely greater magnitude, as He would be carrying the weight of sin of all humanity! Yet, He knew this is why He came to earth, and He did it willingly.
In various ways, we will all have those agonizing crossroads at some time, where we have to choose between a total surrender to God’s will, or the path we may want to take, one of lesser pain or sacrifice.
But, what may be unknown or a path of full surrender to God, does not need to be a road filled with great anxiety or fear. Remember these very reassuring words from the book of Hebrews, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us; looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of God.” (Hebrews 12: 1-2 NKJV) Many times, Jesus told His disciples to not fear, because like us, they often felt fear of the unknowns ahead.
Jesus knew the joy that lay ahead of Him…the “EASTER” resurrection!! When we go through those times of suffering and pain, focus on “what lies ahead”! He promises to “never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13: 5b)
In Luke 11: 1-4, we read Jesus’ disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray.
So He said to them, “When you pray, say:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us day by day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins,
For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.” (NKJV)
What we now commonly call the “Lord’s Prayer” also includes “for Thine is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.” Many wonderful insights can be gleaned from this prayer that Jesus taught us, but for now my focus is
“Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven…”
My prayer for you and for me, is that these aren’t just words piously quoted, but that the RISEN LORD JESUS, is walking beside you and me, as we choose to say, “Lord, not my will, but Your will” be done! May we walk in HIS risen power and strength!
Listen to this beautiful prayer in song! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEplqV0scyo
