YOU CAN'T MAKE ME

Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. - Matthew 6:10b (NAS)

      Spring had sprung in Pupperville and many of its residents were busy with spring cleaning. With the warmer temperatures that had invaded the area, windows were being washed and opened to air things out, carpets were being scrubbed, walls were being wiped down, closet were being cleaned out, yards were being raked, and kids were whining and complaining.

     Over at the Peterson house some of the worst whining in the neighborhood was occurring as Stella was learning she had to spring clean. While Stella thought having a clean house would be nice , she wanted nothing to do with it. For weeks, or so she claimed, she had been making plans to spend the day with her friends. But Mom was not going to allow it and handed her a list of things to do that was nearly two miles long, or at lest that's what Stella claimed.

     After reading through the list she demanded that Harold be made to do everything on it. “And why should Harold have to do everything?” Martha asked. “Because he's the one that causes all of the problems and makes all of the messes.” Stella responded. “And you think you never do?” Martha asked knowing full well that Stella was far from perfect.

     “Where is Harold anyways?” Stella asked as she looked around for him. “He's not here.” Martha had to tell her, “He's working on his list which has him fixing things all over town and your DAD is with him to make sure he gets things done.” “Well, when he's done he can do my list too.” Stella said as she threw the list on the floor “I'm not doing it and you can't make me!”

      “Sorry,” Martha said as she picked up the list and gave it back to her, “But Harold will not be doing your list.” Well,” Stella said in disgust, “You're the mom, you do my list, I'm leaving.” and than Stella threw the list at her mom and tried to leave but she couldn't get past her mom who was blocking the doorway.

     “You will not be going anywhere!” Martha said sternly as she handed the list back, “And if everything on this list isn't done by the time your Dad gets home you won't be going anywhere for the rest of the month.” Upon hearing that, Stella snatched the list out of her mom's hand, shredded it, threw it in the air, proclaimed the list was done and than slammed the door shut.

     A few minutes later came a horrific scream. Trying to sneak out her bedroom window to get to her friends house, Stella fell twelve feet landing on her bike she had failed to put away. Once she made it to the hospital she learned that she was lucky to still be alive and she would have to be in traction, unable to move for the rest of the summer and if that wasn't bad enough, her mom had made her a new list and told her it would be waiting for her when she got home, just before the start of school.

     You don't have to go very far to find bad news and as we look around at all the “evil” and “violence” in the world. We may be tempted to pray as the Jesus taught us in Matthew 6:10 ans ask for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Or in other words “God, I want you to get things under control down here!” But, do we really want God to get things under control?

     Since God created us should He not also be our instructor on how we should live? And what are purpose for being here is? And what He desires of us? Through out the Bible we read of God's will or desire for us. Here are just two such passages.

• Deuteronomy 10:12-13 Now, Israel, this is what the LORD your God wants you to do: Respect the LORD your God, and do what he has told you to do. Love him. Serve the LORD your God with your whole being, and obey the LORD’S commands and laws that I am giving you today for your own good. (NCV)
• 1 Peter 2:13-15 Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. (ESV)

     Beyond these general desires that God has for us, I believe there are specific things for each of us as individuals as well yet we often have trouble understanding what that will is. Often times what we think God should do, He doesn’t and what we don’t think He should do, He does in relation to His will and people.

     While much more could be said on what God's will is how would one want Him to implement it – how would we have God's will enforced? From my perspective, I only see two ways in which God could enforce it. The first is to eliminate all who do not conform to His will like He did during the days of Noah or as He did to Sodom and Gomorrah. Of course, if you know those stories you know how many survived. The Bible reminds us that no one is righteous, we all have sinned and as such we would all be wiped out.

     The other thing God could do is eliminate our ability to choose but than we would be nothing more than puppets. As much as I may make the puppets of Pupperville seem alive – they are just puppets and have no ability to choose anything, they can only do what I say they will do.

     Of course, if we really want God's will to be done on earth we need to be doing our part and not just praying about it. In Matthew 16:24 Jesus said to the disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me. (NLT) We can't ask for God's will to be done and not do it ourselves, we can't ask for God's will to be done and than do our will instead.

     An overweight business associate of decided it was time to shed some excess pounds. He took his new diet seriously, even changing his driving route to avoid his favorite bakery. One morning, however, he arrived at work carrying a gigantic coffee cake. Everyone scolded him, but his smile remained cherubic. "This is a very special coffee cake," he explained. "I accidentally drove by the bakery this morning and there in the window were a host of goodies. I felt this was no accident, so I prayed, 'Lord, if you want me to have one of these delicious coffee cakes, let me have a parking place directly in front of the bakery.' And sure enough," he continued, "the eighth time around the block, there it was!" - (Illustrations Unlimited) Since God gives us all a choice, and since God will not yet take that way and since God won’t yet eliminate us, the alternative is up to us. To pray thy will be done is to say I’m going to do your will, I’m going to do what you want not what I want

      Here's Something To Ponder

• When was the last time you asked for God's will to be done in your life?
• Do you succumb to God's will or replace it with your own?