A Son Delights To Do His Father’s Will

John 8:29

The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone,
for I always do what pleases him.” (NIV)

Jesus lived a life that always pleased His Father. He loved to do His Father’s will. In John 4:34, Jesus told His disciples that His very food was to do the will of His Father and finish His work. Everything that Jesus did was in harmony with His heavenly Dad.

Every time He picked up a child and blessed them, He was doing what He saw His Father doing. Every time He forgave a sinner, He was moved with the same compassion that welled up in God. Even when He drove out the money changers in the temple, He was moving in complete unity with His Father.

The very focus of Jesus’ life was to make His Father smile. He delighted to do His will in all that He did. It wasn’t difficult for Jesus to live in unity with His Father, for the love that they had for each other made it the complete joy of His life. Jesus did not have to try and think about what made His Father happy, because He knew His Father’s heart intimately and naturally flowed in the same direction.

I truly believe that it is God’s plan and purpose for us to delight to do our Father’s will too! In Psalm 119, the psalmist declares in many places how he delighted to do the will of God. In Psalm 1:1-3, we read the incredible benefits that follow those whose delight is in the Lord…

1 Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in Yahweh’s law. On his law he meditates day and night.3 He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also does not wither. Whatever he does shall prosper. (WEB)

When I was a young Christian, I thought that living a Christian life would mean that I lived a life that was in direct opposition with what I wanted. I was convinced that God was going to send me to be a missionary to a country where I didn’t want to go to. I even struggled that He might ask me to marry someone that I wasn’t in love with.

The reason why I struggled with these things was because I assumed that God’s plans and purposes for my life must be the exact opposite to what I desired in my heart. After all, I was a sinner and was very familiar with the Bible verse that says that the heart is deceitful and beyond cure (Jeremiah 17:9). If I couldn’t trust my heart, then I could only assume that God would require the very opposite of what I desired in my heart.

Now as you read this, you may be wondering how I embraced this kind of theology as a new believer. It wasn’t because someone actually told me this was the truth. I just think that I learned this through living a Christian life that was focused more on me trying to live by a set of rules or principles than learning to trust in the still small voice that now resided IN me.

When I look back at the 36 years that I have been a Christian, I have been amazed to see how God has actually led me. He didn’t send me to a country where I didn’t want to go. I actually married the love of my life and we just celebrated our 29th wedding anniversary in the past two weeks. And the work that He has called me to do in His kingdom is what I absolutely love to do!

Having said all that, I am not saying that my Christian life has been easy. There have been many times when I have stumbled, been hurt, been discouraged, struggled with fear, etc., etc. Life has not always been easy but looking in hindsight, I am amazed to see how the best times in my life have been when I have followed my heart’s desires.

The more that I am convinced that nothing in all creation will ever separate me from the love of God, the more I see that my life is really a dance with the Spirit of God that lives in me. He leads and I follow. How do I know His leading in my life? I am learning to simply trust that He is directing me through the desires of my heart.

In Philippians 2:13-14 Paul says… 12 So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.13 For it is God who works in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure. (WEB)

I love the Amplified version describing verse 13… [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight. (AMP)

I believe the more that we truly live in a heart relationship with the Godhead, rather than trying to live by a rulebook, the easier it will be for us to discern the will of God for our lives. The more we realize that our Father created us to do good works that are unique to us, the more we will stop trying to compare ourselves with others and run the race that is uniquely marked out for us (Hebrews 12:1-2).

In the Amplified version of Ephesians 2:10, this is what Paul says… For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. (AMP)

My prayer today is that each and every one of us would know that we have been created in the image of God to uniquely reflect His glory in all that we do. My prayer is that we would embrace who He made us to be so that we could truly begin to live out of our redeemed heart and trust the Lord’s leading through our heart’s desires.

May each one of us truly find delight in simply doing our Father’s will. May a new sense of the joy of the Lord fill us today, knowing that our life already makes Him smile. May we all live a life being led by the Spirit and not by our own pre-conceived ideas of what we think He wants us to do. May freedom reign in our hearts and may we truly echo the psalmist and say I delight to do Thy will oh God!

Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.

The Son

Years ago, there was a very wealthy man who, with his devoted young son, shared a passion for art collecting. Together they traveled around the world, adding only the finest art treasures to their collection. Priceless works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet and many others adorned the walls of the family estate.

The widowed elder man looked on with satisfaction, as his only child became an experienced art collector. The son’s trained eye and sharp business mind caused his father to beam with pride as they dealt with art collectors around the world.

As winter approached, war engulfed the nation, and the young man left to serve his country. After only a few short weeks, his father received a telegram. His beloved son was missing in action. The art collector anxiously awaited more news, fearing he would never see his son again.

Within days, his fears were confirmed. The young man had died while rushing a fellow soldier to a medic.

Distraught and lonely, the old man faced the upcoming Easter holidays with anguish and sadness. The joy of the season, a season that he and his son had so looked forward to, would visit his house no longer. On Easter morning, a knock on the door awakened the depressed old man. As he walked to the door, the masterpieces of art on the walls only reminded him that his son was not coming home. As he opened the door, he was greeted by a soldier with a large package in his hand. He introduced himself to the man by saying, “I was a friend of your son. I was the one he was rescuing when he died. May I come in for a few moments? I have something to show you.”

As the two began to talk, the soldier told of how the man’s son had told every one of his father’s love of fine art. “I’m an artist,” said the soldier, “and I want to give you this.” As the old man unwrapped the package, the paper gave way to reveal a portrait of the man’s son. Though the world would never consider it the work of a genius, the painting featured the young man’s face in striking detail.

Overcome with emotion, the man thanked the soldier, promising to hang the picture above the fireplace. A few hours later, after the soldier had departed, the old man set about his task.

True to his word, the painting went above the fireplace, pushing aside thousands of dollars of paintings. And then the man sat in his chair and spent Easter gazing at the gift he had been given. During the days and weeks that followed, the man realized that even though his son was no longer with him, the boy’s life would live on because of those he had touched. He would soon learn that his son had rescued dozens of wounded soldiers before a bullet stilled his caring heart.

As the stories of his son’s gallantry continued to reach him, fatherly pride and satisfaction began to ease the grief. The painting of his son soon became his most prized possession, far eclipsing any interest in the pieces for which museums around the world clamored.

He told his neighbors it was the greatest gift he had ever received. The following spring, the old man became ill and passed away. The art world was in anticipation.

With the collector’s passing, and his only son dead, those paintings would be sold at an auction. According to the will of the old man, all of the art works would be auctioned on Easter Day, the day he had received his greatest gift.

The day soon arrived and art collectors from around the world gathered to bid on some of the world’s most spectacular paintings. Dreams would be fulfilled this day; greatness would be achieved as many would claim “I have the greatest collection.” The auction began with a painting that was not on any museum’s list. It was the painting of the man’s son. The auctioneer asked for an opening bid. The room was silent. “Who will open the bidding with $100?” he asked. Minutes passed. No one spoke. From the back of the room came, “Who cares about that painting? It’s just a picture of his son.

Let’s forget it and go on to the good stuff.” More voices echoed in agreement. “No, we have to sell this one first,” replied the auctioneer.

“Now, who will take the son?” Finally, a friend of the old man spoke.

“Will you take ten dollars for the painting? That’s all I have. I knew the boy, so I’d like to have it.” “I have ten dollars. Will anyone go higher?” called the auctioneer. After more silence, the auctioneer said, “Going once, going twice. Gone.” The gavel fell. Cheers filled the room and someone exclaimed, “Now we can get on with it and we can bid on these treasures!” The auctioneer looked at the audience and announced the auction was over.

Stunned disbelief quieted the room. Someone spoke up and asked, “What do you mean it’s over? We didn’t come here for a picture of some old guy’s son. What about all of these paintings? There are millions of dollars of art here! I demand that you explain what’s going on here!” The auctioneer replied, “It’s very simple. According to the will of the father, whoever takes the son . . . gets it all!”

Just as those art collectors discovered on that Easter Day, the message is still the same-the love of a Father – a Father whose greatest joy came from His Son who went away and gave his life rescuing others. And because of that Father’s love…whoever takes the Son gets it all.

A Thousand Marbles

The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings. Perhaps it’s the quiet solitude that comes with being the first to rise, or maybe it’s the unbounded joy of not having to be at work.  Either way, the first few hours of a Saturday morning are most  enjoyable.  A few weeks ago, I was shuffling toward the kitchen with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and the morning paper in the other.  What began as atypical Saturday morning turned into one of those lessons that life seems to hand you from time to time.

 Let me tell you about it.  I turned the volume  up on my radio in order to listen to a Saturday morning talk show. I heard an older sounding chap with a golden voice. You know the kind, he sounded like he should be in the broadcasting business himself.  He was talking about “a thousand marbles” to someone named “Tom”. I was intrigued and sat down to listen to what he had to say.

“Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you’re busy with your job. I’m sure they pay you well but it’s a shame you have to be away from home and your family so much.  Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work sixty or seventy hours a week to make ends meet.  Too bad you missed your daughter’s dance recital.” He continued, “Let me tell you something Tom, something that has helped me keep a good perspective on my own priorities.”  And that’s when he began to explain his theory of a “thousand marbles.”

“You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic. The average person lives about seventy-five years. know, some live more and some live less, but on average, folks live about seventy-five years.”

“Now then, I multiplied 75 times 52 and I came up with 3900 which is the number of Saturdays that the average person has in their entire lifetime. Now stick with me Tom, I’m getting to the important part.”  “It took me until I was fifty-five years old to think about all this in any detail”, he went on, “and by that time I had lived through over twenty-eight hundred Saturdays.  I got to thinking that if I lived to be seventy-five, I only had about a thousand of them left to enjoy.”  “So I went to a toy store and bought every single marble they had. I ended up having to visit three toy stores to round-up 1000 marbles.  I took them home and put them inside of a large, clear plastic container right here in my workshop next to the radio. Every Saturday since then, I have taken one marble out and throw it away.” “I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life. There is nothing like watching your time here on this earth run out to help get your priorities straight.”

“Now let me tell you one last thing before I sign-off with you and take my lovely wife out for breakfast.  This morning, I took the very last marble out of the container. I figure if I make it until next Saturday then I have been given a little extra time. And the one thing we can all use is a little more time.”

“It was nice to talk to you Tom, I hope you spend more time with your loved ones, and I hope to meet you again someday.  Have a good morning!”  You could have heard a pin drop when he finished.  Even the show’s moderator didn’t have anything to say for a few moments.  I guess he gave us all a lot to think about. I had planned to do some work that morning, then go to the gym. Instead, I went upstairs and woke my wife up with a kiss.

 “C’mon honey, I’m taking you and the kids to breakfast.”   “What brought this on?” she asked with a smile.  “Oh, nothing special, it’s just been a long time since we spent a Saturday together with the kids. Hey, can we stop at a toy store while we’re out? I need to buy some marbles.”

 

The Lonely Ember

A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastor’s visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a big chair near the fireplace and waited. The pastor made himself comfortable but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the play of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet fascination. As the one lone ember’s flame diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and “dead as a doornail.” Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. Just before the pastor was ready to leave, he picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it. As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said, “Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday.”