Robert E Rasmussen.com

 Surrender to God’s will is the beginning point for following Jesus.

Any disciple who desires to share in the victory of Christ must share in His surrender to the will of God. This was made painfully clear the His disciples James and John. Their mother approached Jesus and asked if they could have the privilege of sitting on either side of Jesus in His kingdom. Jesus spoke to the two brother with these words.

“You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with” (Matt. 20:22)?

Note the parallel between drinking the cup of suffering and baptism with Christ, for this will figure later in our trail guide. But for now, follow along with the conversation. The two brother affirmed, “We are able.” We must credit them with their zeal even as we wonder if they had any conception of what was ahead for Christ. Jesus was gracious with them:

“You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with, but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father” (Matt. 21:23).

As with James and John, disciples of Jesus today must drink the cup of Christ if we are to follow Him. We must be baptized with the baptism He underwent.

As a disciple of Jesus Christ, your personal desires will sometimes clash with God’s desires. Or you will face a decision between two or more options. In some cases, neither of two options will be clearly sinful or wrong. But as a disciple, you will want to be confident that you are choosing the path God wants you to choose. In such a Gethsemane-like experience, your challenge is to surrender your will to God’s. Jesus made this point very clear:

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matt. 16:24-25).

The disciple of Jesus can only find spiritual happiness by entrusting his entire life to the purpose of God. It seems ironic and even illogical, but happiness comes only through obedience, and obedience to God is only possible by denying desires which run counter to God’s will.

Any disciple who desires to share in the victory of Christ must share in His surrender to the will of God.

Powered By the Tweet This Plugin

Tweet This

[back to index]  http://www.roberterasmussen.com/