(Luke 22:42) . . . not My will, but Yours, be done."
We know that in the constitution the president of the United States has veto power. He can block any legislation he deems is not in the best interest of the country. But even with this veto power we know that two-thirds of Congress can override the President’s veto. The United Nations is different. The permanent members of the U.N. can block any resolution. In other words, its veto power is absolute.
When Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane He prayed this prayer . . . "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." (Lu 22:42) He asked His Father that if there was any other way of salvation than to suffer and to be crucified for man’s redemption then let it be. But then He said if it wasn’t possible then have “Your way.” I will submit to “Your plan.” In other words, He gave His Father veto power.
What about you, dear friend? Have you given the Lord absolute veto power over your life? Or do you sometimes fudge on God’s plan and say at one time “Your way” and at another time “my way?” Or maybe it’s “Your way” if it suits me. If it doesn’t than it’s “my way.”
Sometimes we are asked to do the difficult thing. Will we obey? You might say that this all fits Jesus because He is God’s Son. But what do you do with the following?
(Gen 22:2) Then He said (to Abraham), "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."
And what did Abraham do? He obeyed. How did it all work out?
(Gen 22:12) And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me."
Is your will flexible or ironclad? Do you get up in the morning and give God the day and tell Him He is free to change any plans you have? Or do you resist anything that alters what you have in stone? Do you plan in pen or pencil? Do you let the Lord modify or do you cry? Do you bend and let the Lord amend? Do you say it has to be a must or do you adjust? Do you know God is wise and will sometimes revise? God loves this “alter” of sacrifice. It means that you trust Him . . . He is in control . . . and that Father knows best.
God has given you free will as an act of love. Will you choose to say: . . . Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven . . . ? (Mat 6:10) How happy you will be with the results!
Louie