THE STORY OF JESUS: Acts 21:1-16
“We gave up and said, ‘The Lord’s will be done.'” (Acts 21:14)
When we speak about ‘the Lord’s will’, we need to be clear what we mean.
We can speak of God’s creation will, what He ultimately desires for all.
God does not desire suffering, sickness, hardship, injustice, pain or death.
He created us for life and for goodness, for ‘shalom’ and fullness of life.
But we can also speak of God’s redemptive will, His intent for restoring His kingdom.
We turned His ‘very good’ creation into a dominion of darkness.
For God to work with and for us in this world, He needs to work with our mess.
He uses and directs our wickedness, and its consequences, to make things right.
In this sense, it was His will that Jesus suffered and died, that we might be saved.
God does not want us to suffer, but He may need to allow it for a greater purpose.
Paul knew that no matter what happened, the Lord would be glorified.
“What has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.” (Philippians 1:12)
“Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.” (Philippians 1:20)
Can I surrender whatever happens to me to the Lord’s will and good purpose?
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, I do not want to suffer, but I do want to surrender to Your will. I choose to trust that Your good purpose will happen through whatever happens today.