A Willing Spirit is within your Reach

“Thy will be done” can never be prayed with ambivalence. It has to be heartfelt. In the Garden, just hours before his crucifixion, Jesus prayed “Thy will be done.” He had a willing spirit. “Willing” means not only ‘ready,” but ‘eager.’ No one could argue that Jesus, who had been preparing his entire life for that “hour,” was not ready to drink the cup of suffering (Matt. 26:41-42). But was He eager? The Greek word suggests so. Could it mean the thought, not of death, but of pleasing His Father predisposed Jesus to a willing spirit that included an element of “eagerness.”

With every new day, I am presented with tests of faith whereby I am forced to ask myself, “Do I have a willing spirit? And am I eager to please my Heavenly Father?” To be otherwise disposed is an accident waiting to happen. Like King David. But in the aftermath of moral failure, David prayed, “Renew a right spirit within me” (Ps. 51:4), the word 'right' meaning willing, ready, and eager.  Being the slow learner that I am, this seems completely out of my reach in this life. And then I remember Paul's words, "God is at work in you, both to WILL and to work for His good pleasure" (Phil. 2:12). It would seem the key to “Thy will be done” is “Lord, give us a willing spirit.”

Satan’s Finest Hour

With the advent of the Republican National Convention this week, Romney is the man of the hour.  Remember when Jesus said, “My hour is not yet come” (John 2:4)? His death on the cross was his “finest hour.”  Satan is waiting for his hour. With Europe’s debt, upheaval across the Middle East, Iran’s aggression toward Israel, global terrorism, and a myriad of other evils, the world is ripe for a leader who will fend off economic collapse, and bring about peace.

A vast majority of the world, especially in the West, are still hopeful that things will turn around. One wonders how educated and sophisticated Americans can be so gullible to believe any person can accomplish the task of making things right again. This naiveté will set the stage for a person who will lead and unite the world.

This person will rise to power with a brilliant 7-year plan for world peace, prosperity and safety (Rev. 13). His charisma, accompanied by miracles, will be so persuasive even post-rapture believers will be deceived (Matt. 24:24).  He will be worshipped as the Messiah.  It will be Satan’s finest hour.

The Finest Hour the World has Ever Known

Shortly after he took over as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Winston Churchill delivered the “This was their finest hour” speech. Though it may have been Great Britain’s finest hour, we can be certain it was not the finest hour the world has ever known. That honor belongs only to the Son of God.

Many times during his three-year ministry, Jesus said “My hour is not yet come” (John 2:4; 7:6, 8, 30; 8:20), revealing His life-long anticipation of that “hour.” When finally Jesus said the hour has come (John 17:1), He knew it was the HOUR that would change the world—the finest hour the world has ever known. Jesus’ finest hour was the polar opposite of the world’s idea of greatness. He suffered a cruel death as a common criminal at the age of 33, alone and deserted by all his followers. Yet this was His finest hour.

Today, Good Friday, Christians around the globe will remember the hour of Jesus’ death. But the meaning of the Cross remains incomprehensible to the natural man. Jesus achieved more in his darkest hour than all the world's heroes and benefactors put together. It was the hour when He died for all mankind to destroy the devil, the one who held the power of death, and to free those who all their lives were held in slavery (Heb. 2:14-15). Death was swallowed up in victory (1 Cor. 15:54), bringing infinite blessing to mankind, turning sorrow to joy, sickness to health, hatred to love, darkness to light and death to life. His final words “it is finished” reveal the purpose of His life—“accomplishing the work God sent Him to do” (John 17:4)—to set the captives free!

Is this not the finest hour the world has ever known! This Easter, let us determine to walk in the freedom He died to give us.