Daily Scripture Reading: Hebrews 13:20-21 KJV
Hebrews 13:20-21 KJV
(20) Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
(21) Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Today’s Devotional Is DISLOCATED LIMBS
The GREEK word perfect, which is rendered here in Greek, means “to put together, to complete”. The original purpose of man’s will was to register the Will and say yes to God. Before the telephone made it possible to communicate with every part of the ship’s ocean-liners, I heard the captain speak quietly to an officer next to him. He then repeated the orders loudly through a tube or speaking-trumpet. This intermediary could be the will that was meant to receive its instructions from God and then pass them on throughout the economy. This was the attitude of our Lord throughout His earthly existence. He stated: “My meat was to do the will Of Him That Sent Me”; “I don’t seek My own will but that of Him who sent Me”; and “Nevertheless, I won’t do as Thou willst, but as I will.”
The Fall saw the dominance of God and man’s loyal response become disorganised. Human will began to follow the will of the flesh, in its cruder or more refined forms, instead of working in harmony with God’s Will. The working principle of the vast majority is not what God wills but what “I”, will. The will has been dislocated, warped and “out of syn” through constant misuse. Tennyson said, “Our wills can be made Thine!” They are stubborn, though. We should therefore suggest that we pass the matter to the “God Of Peace”, who has raised from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ.
A player might lose his balance on the ice or at football. His shoulder could become dislocated in the fall. His arm is still within the body but it’s out of joint. He can then hang uselessly by his side until the surgeon uses one strong wrench to return the bone to its correct place. Is that not true for us? We are already in Christ’s Body through redeeming grace. But we must be set, i.e. brought into articulated union in Christ Jesus with the Will of God. Let us humblely ask the great surgeon of souls to join our wills with His Will, and then work in and through us that which He sees as pleasing in His sight.
PRAYER for Today
Gracious Father! Gracious Father! AMEN.