Pray that God’s will be done

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A “Thy will be done” attitude

.     Prior to His crucifixion, Jesus prayed to His Father about the great trial He would face. Knowing the pain He would soon experience, “He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done” (Matthew 26:42, KJV). This is the third and final time we find the phrase “Thy will be done” in the King James Version of the Bible.

.     In this case, even though Jesus would have preferred not to have suffered as He did, He yielded to God’s will. This prayer raises an interesting question: Was Jesus unaware of His Father’s will about His upcoming crucifixion? A few scriptures provide insight.

.     Revelation 13:8 speaks of Jesus as “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” This means that God’s plan for His Son to give His life for the sins of the world existed from the very beginning. Furthermore, Jesus had taught His disciples that His ministry would include giving up His life. “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up” (John 3:14). Later, He again taught, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself” (John 12:32).

.     So why did Jesus pray that He might not have to suffer crucifixion, yet at the same time also yield to the will of His Father? Could it be that, as He had done regarding baptism (see Matthew 3:14-15), He was modeling the behavior we need to practice? Even though Jesus wasn’t looking forward to the suffering He would have to endure, He was completely committed to fulfilling the will of His Father. As Jesus explained, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work” (John 4:34).

Application

.     As we live our lives, we need to have similar “Thy will be done” attitudes. Living in accordance with God’s will, must be our top priority. Seeking God’s Kingdom must be the primary focus of our lives (Matthew 6:33).

.     If we do as God commands, we can look forward to hearing these wonderful words: “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34).

 

http://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/kingdom-of-god/thy-will-be-done/