Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Monday, September 5, 2016

We are focusing on getting to know God from the perspective of John the beloved.

Today’s Scripture Focus: “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:38–40).

You are extremely important to God! While there are many ways of demonstrating this reality, I would like to focus on the intent of Jesus’ first coming to planet earth. He came down from heaven to do His Father’s will—save you (and me). Therefore all of the ministry, pain, suffering, hardships, and work He encountered while here were for your benefit. God really did love the world so much that He gave His Son to save us. While we were at our worst, God gave His best.

For too often, we don’t consider God’s will for our lives, especially as it relates to others. Is there a neighbor you are supposed to help? Are there youth you need to guide because their parents are absent or too busy? Are there co-workers under the boss’s scrutiny you can help do a better job before they get fired? Does your spouse need a listening ear? I realize most of us are tired and busy. I get it. I realize it's hard to cram anything more into most of our schedules. But, if we do not take our marching orders from God and make ourselves available to be of service to others, the devil has already fit them into his. God’s will is for us to drink deeply of His Spirit so we can lead others closer to Him, and deliver them from the clutches of the enemy. Will you make yourself available?

Can you imagine? Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane after working most of His life in obscurity and a brief three plus years in the public eye, facing one critical question: Would He put His needs before that of God’s will for Him? The real issue was that the Father’s will meant that Jesus would have to die for sins He did not commit. He would have to become sin for a human family of rebels, most of who would neither appreciate nor accept His sacrifice. Would He submit to the bitter end of that process, or allow sinners to die in their sins—our just deserts? Well, since you are experiencing this devotional thought more than 2,000 years after that fateful day, you realize Jesus chose the former. He decided to accept the charge to complete His assignment regardless of the consequences.

If Jesus, the sinless One, could put self aside to save you, is it too much to ask for you to put self aside to do whatever God has called you to do? I have to ask myself that question every day, and I hope you will too. May the Lord help us not to merely ask that question of ourselves, but answer it to the glory of God, and not our own agendas.—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)