Matthew 26:39 (http://www.biblegateway.com)
New International Version (NIV)
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
How often do we face tough experiences and plead with God to provide a way out? How often do we only have our own needs and wants in mind when we ask for a way out? Are we ever seeing the big picture and saying like Jesus did "not as I will, but as you will"?
It seems to me that while we struggle with understanding why we experience hardship, we forget that it is because of our decision back in Genesis to sin, that we experience hardship.
If you were God and your ultimate goal was to save as many people as is possible (who all have free choice) and to have them live with you in eternity, what would you do? Would you allow things to happen to get someones attention, so that they might experience momentary pain for long term gain, that is if their attention is turned to you. Would you allow things to happen to someone to get someone else's attention, so that they might experience long term gain, that is if their attention is turned to you.
God doesn't want us to experience pain, but if that's what brings us to him, perhaps he does allow it. In view of this maybe I should be more apt to say not as I will, but as you will, knowing full well that God's bigger picture plan is really what matters.
How often do we face tough experiences and plead with God to provide a way out? How often do we only have our own needs and wants in mind when we ask for a way out? Are we ever seeing the big picture and saying like Jesus did "not as I will, but as you will"?
It seems to me that while we struggle with understanding why we experience hardship, we forget that it is because of our decision back in Genesis to sin, that we experience hardship.
If you were God and your ultimate goal was to save as many people as is possible (who all have free choice) and to have them live with you in eternity, what would you do? Would you allow things to happen to get someones attention, so that they might experience momentary pain for long term gain, that is if their attention is turned to you. Would you allow things to happen to someone to get someone else's attention, so that they might experience long term gain, that is if their attention is turned to you.
God doesn't want us to experience pain, but if that's what brings us to him, perhaps he does allow it. In view of this maybe I should be more apt to say not as I will, but as you will, knowing full well that God's bigger picture plan is really what matters.
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