Thursday, April 6, 2023
Our Father Knows Best
He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” (Matthew 26:39 NLT)
From the moment of His birth, Jesus lived in the shadow of the cross. When Joseph and Mary dedicated Him in the temple, the prophet Simeon said to Mary, “A sword will pierce your very soul” (Luke 2:35 NLT).
Simeon predicted what Jesus would go through and what Mary would experience as she watched her son hang on the cross.
Jesus knew this was coming. And He began to aggressively address it at a place called Caesarea Philippi. He was very specific about it.
Matthew’s Gospel says, “From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead” (Matthew 16:21 NLT).
Jesus knew, worst of all, that He would experience separation from the heavenly Father as He bore all the sins of the world on the cross.
So, in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine” (Matthew 26:39 NLT).
That is a way of saying, “Lord, if I am about to pray anything that is outside of Your will, I am asking You to overrule it. I know that Your plan is better than mine.” Jesus died fulfilling the plan and purpose of God.
Every Christian will come to their own Gethsemane, a time when they grapple with the hard issues of life. It is during those times that we must say, “Lord, I want Your will to be done, not mine.” Our heavenly Father knows best.
Copyright © 2023 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.org
and
Listen to Greg Laurie's daily broadcast on OnePlace.com and weekly podcast on LifeAudio.com.
Watch Greg Laurie's weekly television broadcast on LightSource.com.
In thanks for your gift, you can receive a copy of Jesus Revolution by Greg Laurie
God used the Jesus Movement to reach an entire generation with the hope of the gospel. In Jesus Revolution, Greg Laurie shares the true story behind this spiritual awakening and the people God used to change countless lives. Written with Ellen Vaughn, this book offers an inspiring look at how revival spread during one of America’s most turbulent decades.
Support Harvest Ministries this month and receive Jesus Revolution as our thank-you gift. For gifts of $50 or more, you’ll also receive the Jesus Revolution DVD to enjoy and share with others.
Was this resource helpful? Add Christianity.com as a trusted source for Biblical content.
