#132. Christlikeness (7) – OK, I submit…
My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you… Galatians 4v19.
As a young lad I used to watch the wrestling on ITV World of Sport on a Saturday afternoon. My favourite wrestlers were Jackie Pallo and Mick McManus. The contest was all about wrestling the opponent into submission by keeping their shoulders on the floor for 3 seconds!
I wonder what it takes for God to get us to submit to him? Jesus is the Great Example of living in submission to the Father’s will. In John 8 Jesus said: When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me… The one who sent me is with me; He has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases Him.
Oh to be like Jesus and “always do what pleases” God.
Jesus even did the will of God when it was difficult for him to do so. In Gethsemane he prayed three times about doing the Father’s will and not his own. If you read the Gethsemane accounts then you get the impression Jesus was wrestling His own soul into submission. But submit to the Father He did.
It is our pride and self-love that stops us from being like Jesus and submitting to God’s will. We think we know best for ourselves. We don’t want anyone or anything to stop us from doing what we want to do. We want to do things “my way”.
But let’s fix our eyes on Jesus and stand amazed in the presence of the One who…
For me it was in the garden,
He prayed: “Not my will, but Thine.”
He had no tears for His own griefs,
But sweat-drops of blood for mine.
Love from a man who lives in a constant wrestling match,
Paul
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nLXXephYRI