I had to pause after those words to think. Do I really mean He has every right to do with me as He pleases? For that matter do you believe He has every right to do with you as He pleases? Truth be told what we want is not important. It is what He wants. That should be the consuming thought of our daily lives.
What does He want. He has the right to do with any of us as He pleases. He charts the course. He plans the journey. He dictates the roadmap. He determines the end destination.
Did not Jesus Himself model this attitude? Matthew 26:39 (ESV)
39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
The word will means to "desire, wish, or please." Jesus submitted Himself to what pleased God. Namely, death on the cross to redeem humanity. What pleased God meant pain, hardship, suffering, and ultimately the sacrifice of life. Do any of us really think we are above God calling for us to endure some difficulties along the road of service to Him.
We see this same attitude in Jesus elsewhere in scripture. Philippians 2:5-11 (ESV)
5
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
What pleased God is what Jesus concerned Himself with. Should it be any different for us?
We are consumed with what we want. What house we want. What cars we want. What clothes we want. What cell phones we want. What size television we want. What new gadget or gizmo we want. What food we want (no chicken for me please.) So much of Christian America is focused on selfish wants. Selfishness pervades our society. Sadly it premeates many homes also.
This translates into the local church as well. How many members are more concerned with what they want in ministry more than what God wants? They want their kind of music. They want their kind of pastor. They want their kind of programs. They want.
Let's face the truth. A deep current of selfishness runs rapidly through the hearts of many Christians. I find myself fixated on that line I prayed. "You have the right to do with me as You please." If those are not empty words they cut the heart out selfishness. My want and will submit to God's want and will.
This life is not about me or you. It is all about Him and His desires for His kingdom. Each of us has a role to play in that kingdom. Some have larger roles than others. Some have more prominent roles than others. That should not concern us in the least. He is the director and we are only stage players in God's unfolding drama. He assigns our parts. We are to learn our role and give it our best effort. It is what pleases Him.
There is no room for selfishness. No room for rivalries in the kingdom. We are all playing for the same team and fighting the same enemy. Our adversary Satan. We are not in competition with other churches. There is so much jealously, envy, and disdain among many church leaders toward other brothers and sisters in Christ. There is a lot of fake glad handing and insincere double talk.
Whatever role assigned to us, whatever path we are called to take, whatever hardships we are forced to endure, may we always be able to say honestly, "As You please."
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