Not My Will

Not My Will

Acts 21: ¹² When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. ¹³ Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” ¹⁴ When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”

¹⁵ After this, we started on our way up to Jerusalem. ¹⁶ Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us and brought us to the home of Mnason, where we were to stay. He was a man from Cyprus and one of the early disciples.

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Excited that I was going to finally have sex, I figured out my plan down to the letter. I would “borrow” the car pick up the girl from her house, have sex and go back home. The plan was brilliant. When I asked for the car, I was met with “It needs a new radiator. It’s not going anywhere.”

• Many times I have been prevented from doing what I wanted to do.
• Many times my plans have been derailed.
• Many times my will was pointed in a, not so good, direction.

A huge crowd tried to persuade Paul from going to Jerusalem. When they heard the prophecy of his imprisonment, and knowing what happened to JESUS, they wanted to play it safe. But Paul was not persuaded. He knew he had to lay aside his will and live for GOD.

• GOD wants me to lay aside my will for HIS.
• GOD wants me to sacrifice my will and live for HIM.
• GOD wants me to see my will can get in the way of HIS will.

“YOUR will be done”, are hard words to say. I mean, I want to be in control of the situation or get my way. BUT GOD loves when I say and mean those words. When I want to do something sinful and back off because of GOD said not to do it, HE rejoices and rewards me.

HE also loves when I do something HE wants me to do, especially when I don’t want to do it; like apologize first, or give my last dollar to a homeless person or call the lonely even though they have never called me. I am glad to do GOD’s will for it has many rewards.

• Are you frustrated because you are not getting your way?
• Do you think your way is aligned to what GOD wants in your life?
• Will you take a moment and ask GOD to do HIS will in your life even if it means to let go of something precious to you?

Come to Collect

Come to Collect

John 6: ³⁵ And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. ³⁶ But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. ³⁷ All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. ³⁸ For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. ³⁹ This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. ⁴⁰ And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

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Scared to answer the phone, I said “hello.” It was another bill collector asking for their money. Unfortunately, I had none and I told them just that. The next day they called back. I explained that no money had come in from yesterday’s call. The following day they called back and again and again until I paid off the debt. Wow they were relentless!

• There were people who relentlessly pursued what I owed them.
• There were people who spared no cost in trying to collect what was theirs from me.
• There were people who spent their entire day looking for me to give them what I owed.

JESUS reveals HE is the Bread of Life. HE explains that if people would return to HIM, they would never hunger or thirst. HE is a different but necessary source of food. HE then explains what HE was there for.

• JESUS became a human so HE could be murdered for me to pay my debt.
• JESUS knew I must die because I was born into sin so HE decided to be killed in place of me.
• JESUS said if I would come to HIM, HE would never cast me out.

GOD wants to collect those who are willing to be with HIM. HE gave us free will to choose HIM or ourselves. Those who believe that JESUS took care of all their sins will be saved. Those who do not think their sins matter or that they have not sinned at all will perish forever.

JESUS came to do the will of the FATHER which is to gather all those HE has given to HIM. HE is relentless in HIS pursuit. Ever day HE comes after me, loving me and caring for me, even when I blatantly run away from HIM. HE is the great collector. I am glad HE paid my debt.

• What are you distracted by?
• Are you so focused on the debts of humans that you can no longer see GOD?
• Will you focus on your need for everlasting life and praise GOD for clearing your debt of sin today?