Arm Twisting?

Sometimes my wife will offer something to me (such as a desert or treat of some kind) and I will respond “Oh, oh, oh, okay” while I am pushing my arm up behind my back to imitate having my arm twisted to force me to do something. Certainly good food doesn’t have to be forced upon me. I don’t need my arm twisted to get me to eat. That’s why I had to work at losing some weight a few years ago. However, there are times when it does take some arm twisting to get someone to do something. That arm twisting may not be physical, but still just as forceful in pressuring through intimidation, playing on the emotions, making another feel guilty if they don’t, wearing them down through asking and asking and asking (note the example in Luke 18:4-5), or by some other means that finally gets another to comply. When Jesus told the parable of the persistent widow making her request to the “unrighteous judge” (ESV), He capped it off with a statement regarding God’s willingness to grant justice and then stated…

“…Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes will he find faith on earth?” ( Luke 18:8b ESV)

FAITH! FAITH in requests to God with regard to our life. Is it about twisting the arm of God? Is it about pushing His buttons in a certain way to get what we want? Is it about wearing Him down through incessant pleading and throwing a tantrum like a three-year-old until He gives in to us? Someone has stated that “Faith is not twisting God’s arm to give us what we want, but it’s bending our will to do what God wants.” [original source unknown]

Isn’t that what Jesus exemplified? Remember what marked His prayer in the garden prior to His arrest and crucifixion.

“And he said, ‘Abba, Father, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE FOR YOU. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, BUT WHAT YOU WILL.’” ( Mark 14:36 ESV)

Jesus was heard, but not spared. ( Hebrews 5:7) Jesus prayed and He accepted. He had a Will, but it took second place to the Will of the Father.

Peter noted our Lord’s trust in the following way.
“When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but CONTINUED ENTRUSTING HIMSELF TO HIM WHO JUDGES JUSTLY.” ( 1 Peter 2:23 ESV)

FAITH! Do we focus our FAITH on seeking and accepting God’s will to be done? Though we talk about His great wisdom are we content to let our own will take second place to His? FAITH is trusting in the FAITHFULNESS OF GOD -- “who judges justly” and has the ability to do “all things” -- to do what is truly best for us. May we be willing to continually bend our will to fully accept and do what it is God desires.

Have a great day TRUSTING THE FAITHFUL ARM OF GOD!
Carl

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