… by the will of God
This is from 2Cor ch 1, though it could be found multiple places, but it stuck out to me as i read, just as i started to read, literally, in order to study. But i got stuck. Right away.
Paul, an apostle, by the will of God…
Paul is who he is, does what he does, has the title and position and responsibility and influence and impact - because- simply because - - it is the will of God
He doesn’t earn this position
Or gain it…
It is not a result of his hard work
Or his personality or great gifts or strengths or talents,
Not because he is better at it than others
Or has special knowledge
Or gifted at learning and understanding and teaching.
No.
No, he has the gift of calling, this position,
This special calling
Because
The Lord called him.
It was HIS will.
He did not ascertain to it
Work super hard to it
Or have to gain the respect of others and acceptance from others.
In fact, in this instance- he has none of those things.
Even though Paul, may start out all his letters this way
IT was especially important for him to say it here, in this situation, to these people
Bc
They didn’t like him
Or didn’t respect him
Or something
They didn’t want him as a leader
Or questioned his actual authority
His apostleship
But Paul’s apostleship was not given by man
Not something he tried to attain to, or ascertain
He did not work for a degree
Or perform enough miracles
Have great numbers at teaching events
No, not because of his influence or ability.
Not because of hisknowledge or history/past
No,
He would be the least of all apostles
Least of all people
But
But God chose him.
God willed it to be
And so it was.
God’s will cannot be thwarted
Even if the peopel didn’t want to accept it
Even if Paul thought maybe he was not worthy
(see people like Moses, Gideon, etc)
God willed it
And it was.
That;s the thing about God’s will
It will happen.
It cannot be stopped, thwarted
God’s will will be done
So…
So we must just submit to it, yield to it,
Let it happen
We don’t need to try to make it happen
- like Abraham who tried to help God
- he lied about his wife to protect him instead of trusting God to take care of him
- he tried to produce an offspring through Hagar- instead of trusting God’s good ways, His promises.
No, we can simply wait on God
- maybe even like David- who wouldn’t strike Saul. We wait for God to fulfill His plan, His will - it is good, and it will come to pass. We just have to wait, ahve to trust.
And if God’s plans, God’s will is different than ours?
Well, then that is good too.
Why fight God’s will?
Why be like Jonah who ran the other way? Why try to force ourselves to be a king - like many of David’s sons- and thus make ourselves even enemies to God?
No, we wait.
We trust.
And we do as God wants.
We submit our wills, our desires, our hopes, our plans - to God.
He is good,
His will is good.
His ways are good.
And He has good plans for us.
Cuz He loves us
And He is good always.
We don’t have to be apostles or leaders
Or famous
Or known
Or have impact
His will is good.
Jesus submitted to the will of God
He said not my will but they will be done.
And He went to a Cross.
He died a cruel deatj
And He saved our souls.
Paul, likewise called out to God to deliver him
But God did not.
Instead he said- my grace is sufficient for you.
And so- maybe somewhat reluctanly, who knows- Paul yielded to God
And decided to boast in weakness
For in weakness, God could show Himself strong
So thus
When he was weak he was strong.
We too can submit to the will of the Father, to the will of God
Indeed, we have no choice really.
Yet,
Yet, we can choose to submit- submit gladly- and we can experience God’s presence, know what it is like to be like Christ- and experience Him/His presence with us. Joy will come.
Jesus set aside the pain
For the joy set beforfe Him
And suffered on the Cross
But in the suffering was joy.
For there is joy in following/ in submitting to the Father.
Where there is submission
There is hope
There is peace
There is faith
There is joy.
And when we rest in God’s goodness
We experience His peace.
When we have His peace
We can have His joy.
But we must submit.
And we must rest
Even if we’re not all we want to be
Or get to do all that we hope we can do
God’s will will be done
And it is good.
Sometimes i worry
Sometimes i get frustrated
I want to do more
I want to feel more accomplished.
I want to get more done.
And yet, all that happens- happens according to God’s will.
Where i am
What i get done
Who i am
- i am by the grace of God
And it is God’s Will
So i can rest
I can trust
I can love
I can live
I can give.
Nothing to worry about.
Just live as God has called me to
And walk into the paths He set before me
Trusting Him
Walking in accordance with His ways, with truth and in love.
Let me love people
Let me love God
Let me enjoy Jesus
Let me enjoy life.
Amen
O God, You are good
And Your mercy endures forever
You are good to me
And have good plans for me
Your will be done!
Lord,
Pour out Your goodness and love upon me.
May i experience Your presence.
Be near to me.
Be close to me
And Draw me closer to You.
Use me as You wish
In accordance to Your will
To Your plans
Your good plans.
May i trust You
Submit to You
Yield to You
And yes, love You!
Lord, may i trust Your good plan
And not do more than You ask me to
And not try so hard to be something, do something
That i forget the most important thing:
To love You and to love others!
May i love my neigbor,
Love my wife
Love my kids
And may i walk with You
Day by day
Moment by moment
Every day
For Your glory, and for Your honor.
Amen
I give You this day
I give You this week
I give You this life, my life
Amen
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