God's will no matter what

Rev. Enoch Thompson | July 2, 2023 | Matthew 20:17-19

KEY VERSE:

¹⁸"We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death ¹⁹and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!" Matt 20:18-19 (NIV).

MESSAGE:

The information was staggering: ¹⁸"We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death ¹⁹and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!" Matt 20:18-19 (NIV).

It was this kind of talk that Peter could not stand. But the Lord repeated it, at least for the third time in Matthew, with calm acceptance, because for Him it was the clear word and will of the Father. It was the necessary end of a mission that had seen miracles as were never done in Israel, and yet this miracle-worker would not work a miracle to remove Himself from the pain He foresaw and predicted.

We must not expose ourselves to unnecessary danger and pain. But sometimes into the will of God and into trouble. When the path God is leading us on demands that we pass through the valley of affliction, all that is required of us is to accept the will of God, and even when we pray to learn to say with the nineteenth-century hymnist Horatius Bonar:

1 Thy way, not mine, O Lord, however dark it be; lead me by thine own hand, choose out the path for me.

2 Smooth let it be or rough, it will be still the best; winding or straight, it leads right onward to thy rest.

3 I dare not choose my lot; I would not if I might: choose thou for me, my God, so shall I walk aright.

FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:

Have you known some discomfort along the paths of God-following? Are there situations you would and could easily change by choosing a path that does not honour God and His Word? Take courage, my friend, take a deep breath and say, Lord, Your perfect will be done. Your will, not mine, always.”

PRAYER:

Dear heavenly Father, your ways are mysterious, past finding out and perfect. Your love for me is incomparable, so true and strong, stronger than death. Yet your will allows your loved ones to face affliction. Please grant me the wisdom to discern between the unnecessary harassment of the enemy and the intentional training in righteousness by my heavenly Father. Then I shall always say, “Your will be done.” For your dear Son’s Name’s sake, Amen.

THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.

SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!