Matthew 26:38-39 (NKJV) Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with me.” He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup be pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
When we go through challenging situations or face major decisions, such as changing jobs, relocation, marriage, choosing a university, or making a major investment, our souls can come under tremendous stress because we are stepping into the unknown.
Fully man and fully God, Jesus’ soul was overwhelmed with sorrow for what He had to go through. The extent of His pain was so great that He shed blood. Yet, Jesus was submissive to God by praying to the Father regarding His will. He followed the Father’s will though it involved paying a price. Jesus went into the Garden of Gethsemane with two wills but came out with only one will, the will of the Father.
Living for Christ is living a consecrated life where we choose to live out God’s will for our life, walk in holiness, and have the attitude of eager submission to God’s will. Our priorities will be the Lord’s, followed by family interest, personal health, position in the company, and remuneration. It involves laying down the rights to our own lives, truly desiring God to be Lord over us, and always seeking the Lord for His will and direction for our lives. It should cover every aspect of our lives, including choosing a life partner, managing our wealth, assets, gifting, and our career.
Jesus set a brilliant example of how we should pray to be in God’s will and have His leading in every major decision of our lives. When Jesus prayed, He did not pray to receive anything from the Father, but about becoming the sin sacrifice for the world. This is the only recorded prayer of Jesus where it says, “If it is your will”, and when He said, “Nevertheless not my will, but as You will”, Jesus was praying about the will of God for His life.
In the Lord’s prayer, Jesus taught us to pray for the Father’s will to be done on earth as in heaven. There is a heavenly plan for every one of our lives. He is the master craft man who has created each of us uniquely with different talents and giftsfor a purpose. Therefore, if we want to know whether something is the will of God, we should pray the prayer of consecration repeatedly, where we seek the will of God for our lives and submit ourselves to God’s will, until God’s will is known.
Sermon Series: Unless Your Presence Goes with Us
我们的意愿，神的旨意
马太福音26:38-39 便对他们说：“我心里甚是忧伤，几乎要死；你们在这里等候，和我一同警醒。” 他就稍往前走，俯伏在地，祷告说：“我父啊，倘若可行，求你叫这杯离开我。然而，不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。”
当我们经历一些挑战或面对重大决定时，比如换工作、搬迁、结婚、选择大学或进行重大投资时，我们的内在可能承受巨大的压力，因为我们步入了未知的领域。
耶稣既是完全的人，又是完全的神，祂的灵魂为将要经历的事情感到无比忧伤。祂所受的痛苦程度如此之大，以至于流出了血。然而，耶稣通过向父祷告，顺服于神的旨意。尽管这涉及到要耶稣付出代价，但祂耶稣仍然遵行了父的旨意。耶稣进入客西马尼园时有两个意愿，但出来时只有一个意愿，那就是父的旨意。
为基督而活就是过圣洁的生活，我们选择去活出神的旨意，过圣洁的生活，并怀着渴望顺服神旨意的态度。我们的优先事项是神的事工，其次是家庭利益、个人健康、公司职位和报酬。这涉及到放下我们自己生命的权利，真诚地希望神成为我们生命的主，并始终寻求神对我们人生的旨意和方向。这应涵盖我们生活的方方面面，包括选择生活伴侣、管理我们的财富、资产、恩赐和职业。
耶稣为我们树立了一个绝佳的榜样，让我们知道该如何在神的旨意中祷告，并让祂带领我们为生命中的每一个重大事件作决定。当耶稣祷告时，祂并不是为了从父那里得到什么，而是为了世人成为赎罪祭。这是唯一有记载的耶稣的祷告，其中提到：“如果是祢的旨意”，当祂说：“然而不照我的意思，只要照祢的意思”时，耶稣是在祈祷祂在生命中的父的旨意。
在主祷文中，耶稣教导我们祷告，愿父的旨意行在地上如同行在天上。对于我们每个人来说，我们的生命都有一个属天的计划。祂是一位为了一个目的创造我们每个人，赋予我们不同才能和恩赐的大工匠。因此，如果我们想知道某件事是否是神的旨意，我们应该以神为中心，作分别为圣的祷告，寻求神对我们生命的旨意，并顺服于神的旨意，直到祂的旨意显明。
讲章系列：除非你亲自与我们同去
Image Source: pixabay.com