Stan and I were again having breakfast together at the Twelve Baskets Cafe. As we do each time we’re together, Stan had something he wanted to talk about concerning our faith walks and spiritual growth. I asked him what he wanted to talk about this morning. “How not to fight what God wants to do,” was his quick response.
“Not fight what God wants to do? Why would a person do that?
“I can only speak for myself,” he replied, “but it’s usually because I think I know better than God does, just like Peter did in the garden.”
“Peter in the garden? What’d he do?
“When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethesame,” Stan replied, “after Judas betrayed Him and the Roman soldiers and the officers of the chief priests came to arrest Him, Peter drew his sword and tried to prevent it from happening.”
“Is that when Peter cut off some guy’s ear?”
“It is,” Stan agreed, “but that’s a different story for another day. Here I want to talk about what Jesus said to Peter and how He’ll say the same thing today when I try to keep God’s will from happening.”
“What’d He say?”
“Not to interfere with the cup His Father had given Him to drink.”
“Oh,” I responded. “The cup He’d been given to drink. The cup of going to the cross and redeeming the lost world. Is that it?”
“That’s it,” Stan agreed, “and Peter tried to get in the way of that happening. Just think where we’d be today if Peter had been able to do what he wanted to do.”
“No cup, no cross, no resurrection, no salvation, no all sorts of things.”
“Exactly,” Stan replied. “While the cost of my trying to get in the way of God’s will may not be that significant, it’s always better for me and others to not fight against God’s will!”
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Bible verses to consider:
Simon Peter therefore having a sword, drew it, and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus therefore said to Peter, “Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?” John 18:10-11.
And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s” Matthew 16:22-23.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence, I confess that too often while I remain on this side of eternity I seek to impose my will above yours. Please forgive the foolishness of trying to live the new life you’ve given without being totally committed to your will being done in and through me. Help me follow every step of your lead in being part of your will being done on earth as it is in heaven. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you accepted what Jesus accomplished by being obedient to the Father in going to the cross to redeem you? If not, why do you choose to remain separated from God both now and forever? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with being a part of God’s will being done on earth rather than seeking your will over His? If you sense the desire for change with any of his, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?
The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does He know you need to be a part of His will being done on earth, rather than your will being in conflict with His? Spend time studying God’s word, praying, reflecting, and journaling to see what God knows you need. He will show you!
Forward: Do you know others who could or would benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to be part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?