By Augustus Henry (PhD)
It was a lesson too valuable to miss from the teacher whose demonstration had stirred up all Jerusalem. Jesus had just finished expounding on the law in a way never heard before and in a fashion that pierced through the armour of self-righteousness. Now, the teaching on prayer was laid before the disciples of Jesus and He did not hold back from exposing the faithless practices of the religious leaders. After encouraging His students to avoid vain repetitions, He taught them: “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9,10
Jesus not only instructed His disciples to pray for God’s will to be done; He modelled it. During one of His most difficult experiences He applied the same lesson that He preached: “And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Luke 22:41-44
Acknowledge the Division
Jesus acknowledged that something inside of Him (feelings, emotions, etc.) did not want to follow through with surrendering to His divine mission: “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me…” He wanted the desire of God to be performed but He also wanted to be spared the bitter cup of suffering. He acknowledged that there was a division of wills inside of Him. How often do we find ourselves in between the desire to the Lord’s will and the will of the flesh? Delayed versus instant gratification? Here we see the humanity of our Saviour on full display, and it relates with our own. Sometimes we think that we are condemned for having desires that are selfish and short-sighted but it’s not the desires but the decision that determines our heart’s condition.
Make the Choice
After admitting that there was a desire to avoid the pain and suffering before Him Jesus decided : “…nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Within our bodies and minds there is an agenda to do what is comfortable, pleasurable and safe; it’s how our natural nature operates. To even consider functioning in a way that thinks of eternal consequences and rewards requires a change of heart, a transformation of our nature. 2 Peter 4:1 assures us that such a transformation is expected: “…by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” Being partakers of the divine nature grants us the power needed to prioritize God’s eternal will over our own.
Help is Provided
Oftentimes doing the will of God seems impossible and under our own strength it is. However, Jesus’ experience in the garden reveals something else that is comforting to us: “Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.” Hebrews 1:4 says of angels: “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” And in Psalms 103:20 we are told that angels are “…mighty in strength.” After Jesus admitted that He did not want to experience what was before Him and decided to do God’s will, He received strength to carry out the divine will. We too will receive the strength, help and resources needed to perform the will of God when we choose to do so. Angels who are committed to unselfish service and stronger than any demonic influence will side with us in performing God’s will.
Conclusion
All heaven is invested in the exaltation of God’s name and the salvation of humanity. As we continue growing in our knowledge of the Lord, His character and methods of doing things, it will become more natural for us to pray and live the words “not my will but Yours be done.” One writer expressed an idea that I thought was worth noting because trusting Him with our lives is at the foundation of doing His will: “The Father’s presence encircled Christ, and nothing befell Him but that which infinite love permitted for the blessing of the world. Here was His source of comfort, and it is for us. He who is imbued with the Spirit of Christ abides in Christ. Whatever comes to him comes from the Saviour, who surrounds him with His presence. Nothing can touch him except by the Lord’s permission. All our sufferings and sorrows, all our temptations and trials, all our sadness and grief, all our persecutions and privations, in short, all things work together for our good. All experiences and circumstances are God’s workmen whereby good is brought to us.” (The Ministry of Healing)