The biggest struggle any of us will ever have in this life is with OURSELVES. More specifically, the struggle involves the subjection or opposition of OUR selfish, self-centered wills to GOD'S perfect will. When we think about this rationally and objectively, the fact that mere sinful mortals (Romans 3:10, 23) would place their wills in opposition to the will of Almighty God, the Creator of the universe, just doesn't make any sense.
What do we think we can accomplish by resisting and opposing the will of God? Do we believe that we are better qualified to run our lives than the Almighty who sustains the whole universe? Do we think we know better than our Father what is good or bad for us? Why then do we continually resist and oppose His will for our lives? Could it be that we, like Eve of old, have allowed Satan to deceive us?
We pay more attention to his deceptive lies than to GOD'S powerful truth. We buy the "bill of good's" he's selling and accept his counterfeit promises: "Ye shall be as gods!" (Gen 3:5). As he did in the first temptation, Satan implies through his deception that God is holding out on us! We're missing out on something good by listening to God! The fact is, just the OPPOSITE is true! We're missing out on something good and wonderful by listening to Satan! And we deprive ourselves of many blessings that could be ours by doing things our own way (Psalm 16:4; Jonah 2:8).
How much better it is to AGREE with God's word and COOPERATE with God in our lives! (Psalm 119:1-2; Luke 11:28). How much more freeing and satisfying to say: "Not MY will, but THINE be done!" (Luke 22:42). If God is good. And He is! (Psalm 100:5; 119:68). And, if He always seeks OUR good. And He does! (Psalm 103:1-5; 145:8-9; 14-19). And if, in everything He does or asks us to do, He has OUR best interest at heart! (Revelation 3:19; Hebrews 12:5-11), shouldn't we WANT to give Him our full and complete trust (Proverbs 3:5-6), our loving and willing obedience (1 John 4:19; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15), and our heartfelt thanks? (Col 2:7; 1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Terry Schmidt
12-04-16
