Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Hebrews 5:7-8 During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.
LEARNING TRUE OBEDIENCE
In the Old Testament book of Job, we hear the story of a follower of God whose faith was severely tested. Satan told the LORD that the only reason Job worshipped Him was because God had planted a hedge around Job. Always protecting, always blessing. Satan offered this challenge: take away Job's blessings and he would no longer be a faithful and obedient follower.
It's easy to follow when the command is pleasant. True obedience is shown when the command is painful.
On the evening before Jesus crucifixion and death, He anticipated the immense suffering He was about to endure in the place of sinners like you and me. In the garden of Gethsemane He prayed that if there was some other way to redeem sinners, that course might be taken.
And yet, even when Jesus prayed to avoid the cup of suffering that was coming His way, He added this to complete His prayer, "Your will be done, Father." May God give us strength to pour out our worries and troubles and requests to God with complete honesty, and to make our prayers whole by adding the same, "But YOUR will be done, Father."
Jesus' nakedly honest prayers to the Father show that His distress was genuine. He wasn't pretending, because our sins are real. He was obedient in the face of unspeakable suffering of body, mind and soul. And because of His perfect obedience, our disobedience has been swallowed up in forgiveness.
