I was out for a walk the other day and praying. God showed me something I knew already, but He showed it to me in a way that drove it deeper into my heart. I’ve been studying and writing about the Sermon on the Mount, the Law of Christ, and the Beatitudes. Because of this study I believe this deeper insight came to me.
God’s Word matters more than my will.
I know we know that at some level … but do we really KNOW that and live like it? I’ve been wrestling with a life situation, not a sinful one, but just wondering how to handle something, or better yet, someone. While on my walk the Lord showed me from the Beatitudes what to do and how to handle the situation. I need to be a peacemaker.
Now I’m going to be honest, I don’t want to be a peacemaker in this situation in which I’ve done nothing wrong. But that doesn’t matter. My will does not matter. God’s Word says I should try to be a peacemaker and that must override my will.
God’s Word matters more than my will.
In Gethsemane, this was clearly modeled by Christ…
Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and He told the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is swallowed up in sorrow —to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with Me.” Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.” … A large mob, with swords and clubs … came up, took hold of Jesus, and arrested Him. At that moment one of those with Jesus reached out his hand and drew his sword. He struck the high priest’s slave and cut off his ear. Then Jesus told him, “Put your sword back in its place because all who take up a sword will perish by a sword. Or do you think that I cannot call on My Father, and He will provide Me at once with more than 12 legions of angels? How, then, would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?” (Mt 26:36-54)
In the flesh, Jesus didn’t want to go to the cross, but He went anyway. What was His main driver … God’s Word, which reveals His will. Look closely at verses 53-54. Jesus said that He could have exercised His will to be rescued from the situation just by asking the Father. But He rejected that in verse 24 because Him being rescued instead of crucified would have nullified God’s prophetic Old Testament Word about the Messiah dying. You see, Jesus placed God’s Word, Scripture, above His will.
We need to have the same attitude. When God’s Word conflicts with your will … God’s Word must win.
God’s Word matters more than your will. It doesn’t matter if you don’t want to love your enemies; you have too since Scripture says you should. Your will does not matter if it conflicts with God’s Word.
Look at Christ’s humility and then exaltation…be like Jesus regarding humility! “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time” (1 Pet 5:6). Even if it leads to tribulation or death, God’s Word matters more than your will!
Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross. For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth—and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil 2:5-11)
Think about it
How do you force yourself to live by God’s Word instead of your will when it costs us something? In what areas of your life do you follow your will over God’s Word?
How would your life look different if you lived by the principle that God’s Word matters more than your will?
Is there a situation or a “someone” in your life now that is causing you to choose God’s Word or your will? How can you move yourself in the right direction?
What is one thing you can do this week to let God’s Word override your personal preference?
