Monday, December 22, 2003

See, I have come to do your will. Hebrews 10:9

God brought about the salvation of the world through Jesus Christ. Jesus, the human being, did his part by making himself totally obedient to God's will. He began a revolution in the cosmos by subordinating his human desires to those of God. That's the message of this passage from Hebrews. Hebrews says God completely overturned the sacrificial system of the temple through the sacrificial death of Jesus. Through an act on Jesus' part, God established a new order of things. That action was a turning of himself constantly towards the will of the Father, as a sunflower continually turns towards the sun.

According to the author of Hebrews, the truly critical moment in history came with Jesus' death. Yet I wonder whether perhaps the critical moment in salvation history may have come earlier. When Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, he engaged in a mighty struggle: his will or God's will. "He said, "Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want." (Mark 14:36). As disciples of Jesus, I think it's that moment we are to emulate.

It is within the human heart that some of the fiercest battles are waged. This battle -- between God and the forces of evil in the world takes place is the human heart. That battle was waged in Jesus' heart and the forces of Good won out. Because of His victory, we know we can have ultimate victory over those forces of evil, through Christ.

Our desire for control, safety, and security are often in conflict with God's desire that we trust totally and rely completely on God and God alone. C.S. Lewis said that the definition of hell is "getting your way for all of eternity." I thank God for all the times I didn't get my way.

Back in college, I wanted very much to marry my college boyfriend. Thank God that never happened! It never would have lasted! As a single working person in Boston, I'd plan out my Saturdays, the one day I had total "control" over. It was my time, to do with what I wanted. But by the end of the day I often felt exhausted, frazzled and strangely discontented. What I wanted (seeing a movie, having coffee at a particular cafe, going to a favorite bookstore) in fact was not always what I needed. Our will is often not God's will.

Why don't you start a little revolution of your own today? Why not use the next 24 hours to do only what you think God's will is (however you best understand that right now)? Just think what the world would be like if we all did God's will -- nothing more, nothing less, nothing else?

Jesus turned the world upside down by doing the will of his Abba. Maybe you can turn your corner of the world upside down by praying "Not my will but yours be done." And then doing it!

Marianne Cotter

All contents copyright 2003 by the Wisconsin Chapter of the Methodist Federation for Social Action. Permission is granted to United Methodist congregations, individuals and groups to reproduce and distribute this devotional without charge. All other use requires the advance permission of the editor.