When faced with extreme circumstances, what do you do? What do you suppose God would want you to do? How well do you accept God’s plan for your life, versus what you desire or what might make you more influential, rich, or popular among your peers? Many of us faced similar challenges over the past 3-4 years when our lives were taken in totally different directions to what we studied for in college, decided on with financial advisors, planned for in college preparation for our kids, or dreamed of with our spouses for an eventual retirement. Meditate with me as we consider how Jesus set the perfect example for us in the Garden of Gethsemane about following the perfect will of our Father in heaven.

DATE POSTED Tuesday, 2022-08-23
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

BY: Ed Algreen

SCRIPTURE FROM: Mark 14:33-36
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: 33 He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he became deeply troubled and distressed. 34 He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”  35 He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by. 36 “Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

APPLICATION: Often we will face the challenge of knowing the outcome of what is going to impact our lives. Challenges such as the situations I made reference to on my introduction to this devotional. Do these challenges bring out the Christ who lives inside of us, or do they tend to bring out the worst in us? For the unbeliever, they might struggle to predict what they will do because, in most cases, they react the only way they have ever known, and often that will lead to extreme anger, revenge, and unattractive, horrible reactions. But what might you expect to see in the life of a Christian? Well, since we are tasked with following the example and teachings of our Lord Jesus, let us take a look at what He did:
-*- Jesus wanted to share His heaviness in thought and concern with those closest to Him. Could Jesus have gone off to Himself alone? Yes. However, I believe that Jesus wanted His friends, and us, to know that a problem shared is half the battle. It helps you, and it might have a godly impression on our friends;
-*- Jesus wanted His close friends to know that He would be praying about this concern that was troubling Him. Again, Jesus could have done this without anyone else knowing, but there is such peace in knowing that others might be praying with you, even though the Bible does not record that the disciples prayed for Jesus while He went off to Himself in private prayer;
-*- Being well aware of what He wanted, and what might be easiest for Him, yet Jesus knew the importance of pleasing the Father. God had a purpose and a will for the long-term effects of everything that would happen to His Son. I believe that man’s greatest challenge today is to follow in the example of Jesus and pray to the Father: ‘Knowing full well what this situation will lead to, yet I want to see Your will fulfilled so that mankind might see Your glory and honor Your holy name.’ Imagine praying those words to the Father when faced with one of the challenges mentioned above?
Friends, very often in this life here on earth, it is much easier to learn, teach and preach what the Word of God teaches on a subject, than to actually follow it in obedience to the Father. Remember – not my will that I should be totally healthy; not my will that I should be financially capable of traveling the world, helping the poor while still buying everything my family and I desire; not my will that I should retire and rest in peace while the church and the younger generation carries the torch of evangelism; but Your will oh Lord, my God and my salvation. May You be glorified in and through everything I do and, in every effort, to grow Your kingdom, while I have breath to do so here on earth.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Total surrender to God, means surrendering to His perfect will for my life – good, bad, or indifferent to what I want. Oh, that I might sing that old invitation hymn every day – ‘I surrender all, all to thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all.’

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, may we stop being selective in what we obey from Your Word and from Your example lived out in the words of Your Book. May my readers, listeners and I be willing to listen, understand, and without excuse, obey Your Word – Your will for our lives. You did it, even though You knew it would cost You life itself as we know it here on earth. The sacrifice was hurtful for You, but You showed us that above all else, we must be obedient to the Father’s will. for He holds the future in His hands, and He really don’t need our two cents worth of suggestions on what must be done to bring about the end result He has in store for His children, and for this old world. Servants, or a beggar looking for bread, is what we are. Humble us, direct us, and continue to love us through the rough parts of life here on earth, is our plea today dear Lord. May Your will be accomplished regardless of our stubbornness and rejections. Please let others see the love and perfect will of the Father today, instead of our selfish, sinful acts and words. AMEN!