04 SUBMISSION
SUBMISSION
"Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." Luke 22:42 "I seek not my own will, but the will of the Father who has sent me." John 5:30
"And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? ’My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.’ It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?" Hebrews 12:5-7 "The Lord gave — and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord!" Job 1:21 "May Your will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven." Matthew 6:10 Have read of the child, whose parent was teaching him the Lord’s Prayer, who, when he came to this particular petition, and was instructed to say to God, "May Your will be done," refused so to repeat it, but insisted on saying, "May my will be done." That might have been in childish ignorance; if not, that was a true child of fallen Adam.
There is a dispute as old as Adam, whether God or man shall have his own will. This petition, rightly used, settles the point every day, in the right and best way. No one can pray sincerely to God, "May Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven," without yielding the point in question, and saying, "Lord, not my will — but may Your will be done."
What is the petition, or the thing prayed for, when we say in a right way, "May Your will be done"?
There is the will of God, which to us is secret and unknown. He "orders all things," we are told, "after the counsel of his own will." "His footsteps are not known." This secret will of God is not the subject proposed for our prayers; it is not made known to us as such; and if we attempted to pry into it, we would find ourselves lost and bewildered. We must rather say with Paul, respecting that will of God, "Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways beyond finding out!" But we have much to do with God’s providential will respecting us. This varies with us individually; there are diversities in God’s providential dealings — quite as great as the diversities in human countenances. Probably, there are no two individuals on earth whose circumstances in providence correspond in all particulars of their past and present history. What varieties have befallen us as to birth, education, temporal events, health, sickness — in things over which personally we had no control. Regarding the whole of God’s providential will toward us, the spirit of the petition taught to us by our Lord directs us not only not to murmur, but . . .
to acquiesce with cheerfulness,
to submit with patience,
to adore with gratitude,
yes, and to seek to turn the opportunities presented by the events in providence, to the glory of God. When God is pleased once to make plain His providential will — then to object or to murmur would be to rebel against Him. When Aaron lost both his sons in one day, we read that "Aaron was silent." There was silent submission, which yet had a meaning; and that meaning was, "May Your will be done." When Eli heard from Samuel the judgments which God was about to bring on his guilty sons, "It is the Lord," said the old man, "let Him do what seems good to Him." In other words, "May Your will be done." When Job lost not only his cattle and his servants, but also his children, "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord," was the form in which the bereaved patriarch expressed "May Your will be done."
This, therefore, must be our spirit, in regard to all the troubles, afflictions, and adversities — which God in His providence may be pleased to send us at any time. If we had our own natural will granted — we would choose no such things. If we had our own way, we would have, I suppose, a life without a trouble — all prosperity — always health — and riches in abundance. We would never lose a friend by death, and never shed one tear of sorrow. Life would be to us like one bright holiday, with our path strewed with roses — but they must be roses without thorns; our way echoing music — but it must be music without one jarring note. We would be surrounded, I suppose, with the mirthful and the smiling; with not one misery, lest it should interrupt our gladness and joy. But what a contrast is God’s providential will towards us — by which man finds himself liable from infancy, to sickness, accident, disease, and death. He is often called to struggle with poverty; with bereavement and a contracting the social circle. He is frequently familiar with tears; finding many a day of life darkened with storms. His path long and stormy — a rough road. He is often obliged to hang his harp upon the willows, as he sits down to weep over his afflictions. When God’s providential will in such ways crosses our natural will — what are we to do? We are to say, "May Your will be done!" — and to acquiesce with cheerfulness! Yet not with stoic apathy — we may feel as men, while we submit as Christians. How beautifully is this shown in the conduct of our Lord! He felt as a man: "Father, if it is Your will — then take this cup from Me." He submitted as the exemplar of a Christian! "Nevertheless, not My will — but may Your be done."
Christian believer, be encouraged! The will of God toward you is altogether full of love. "It is not the will of your heavenly Father, that one of His little ones should perish." Ask for grace to know and do His will. Though on earth, yet your will should have more and more of the temper of Heaven. Enter more frequently into the communion of saints; endeavor all you can, by the help of God, to make earth resemble Heaven, by doing the will of God here as it is done there! And then — oh, to be there! We are allowed the aspiration and the hope, "O that I had wings like a dove! Then would I fly away and be at rest!" Well, wait your time; your turn will soon come; "every one in his own order" — some sooner, others a little later. Almost every week we mourn the loss of some who used to do God’s will faithfully and consistently, in their sphere, who greatly glorified His name on earth — and who now, "through faith and patience, inherit the promises." In due time — and the time will be but short — all who love and serve God shall meet there, and be with "the spirits of just men made perfect," and with "an innumerable company of angels;" and what is better than all, "so shall you ever be with the Lord," there to do His will perfectly, "as it is done in Heaven!"
"O Lord, create in us clean hearts. Incline them to Your law. Renew our nature in Your holy likeness. May it be our delight to do YOUR will, O God. May we no longer work the will of the flesh. Over all our pains, and all our losses, may we meekly, and with sincere lips, say: The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord!"
"My God, my Father, while I stray
Far from my home, on life’s rough way,
Oh teach me from my heart to say,
’Your will be done!’
"Though dark my path, and poor my lot,
Let me be still, and murmur not;
Or breathe the prayer divinely taught,
’Your will be done!’
"If You should call me to resign
What most I prize — it never was mine —
I only yield You what was Thine:
’Your will be done!’
"Should pining sickness waste away
My life in premature decay,
My Father, still I’ll strive to say,
’Your will be done!’
"If but my fainting heart be blessed
With Your sweet Spirit for its guest,
My God, to You I leave the rest —
’Your will be done!’
"Renew my will from day to day,
Blend it with Your, and take away
All that now makes it hard to say,
’Your will be done!’
"Then, when on earth I breathe no more
The prayer oft mixed with tears before,
I’ll sing upon a happier shore,
’Your will be done!’"
"’Father, Your will, not mine, be done!’
So prayed on earth your suffering Son,
So in His name I pray.
My spirit fails, the flesh is weak. Your help in agony I seek,
Oh take Your cup away!
"If such be not Your sovereign will,
The wiser purpose then fulfill. My wishes I resign.
Into Your hands my soul commend,
On You for life or death depend —
Your will be done, not mine."
— Montgomery