No. 276 - Submission to God's Will

The Obedience of God’s Will

Submission to God's Will

Matthew 26:39 (ESV)

"And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, 'My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.'" 

Starting Prayer

Dear God, grant me understanding as I reflect on today's theme of submission to Your will. Help me to align my desires with Yours. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

Background

Matthew 26 portrays Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, agonizing over His impending crucifixion. In verse 39, Jesus demonstrates profound humility and submission to the Father's will. Despite His anguish, He surrenders Himself, expressing His willingness to fulfill God's plan for salvation. 

Be Encouraged

Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane illustrates the depth of His humility and obedience. Despite knowing the suffering He would endure, He willingly submitted to God's will. This teaches us that true humility involves surrendering our desires to God, even when it is difficult. Just as Jesus trusted the Father's plan, we too should trust God's guidance in our lives. 

Consider the story of Jonah in the Old Testament. Initially resisting God's call to preach repentance to Nineveh, Jonah eventually submitted and obeyed. Through his obedience, an entire city turned to God. Similarly, when we submit to God's will, He can work through us to accomplish His purposes, bringing about blessings we never imagined. 

Application

Reflect on these verses: Philippians 2:8, "And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross," and James 4:7, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." These verses emphasize the importance of submitting to God's will in all circumstances. 

Invitation

If you have not yet committed their lives to Christ, I invite you to visit any nearby Church of Christ to be assisted in obeying the gospel of Christ: through faith (Hebrews 11:6), repentance from sin (Acts 2:38; 17:30-31), and baptism for the forgiveness of all past sins to be saved (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). The Lord will add you to His church, where you can continue to learn and grow in your relationship with Him (Matthew 28:18-20). 

Let us put today's message into practice by submitting our will to God's, just as Jesus did. May we encourage one another to embrace humility and obedience, sharing this message with our loved ones. 

Concluding Prayer

Lord, thank You for the example of Jesus' humble submission to Your will. Help me to follow His example and surrender my desires to You. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

May the Lord bless your day. 

Theodore J. Quist 

Evangelist 

Church of Christ 

Abokobi - Accra 

Ghana


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