My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will» (Matthew 26:39).
When Jesus prayed these words, He knew that in a matter of hours He’d be nailed to a cross and killed. I certainly don’t blame Him for wanting such a horrible event not to happen. But then l le spoke a phrase echoed by countless missionaries around the world: «Not as I will, but as you will.» God’s will is that we obey Him and become like Jesus. It allows us to take advantage of the salvation Christ freely offers.
I learned firsthand that—sometimes—obeying God makes things a bit uncomfortable. I once told an employer that I couldn’t work on Sabbath. Even though we’d been through this when he hired me, he got so mad at my stubborn resolve to keep the seventh clay holy that he punched me right in the face. It hurt. But so did the cross.
Other times I’ve been among friends who made fun of me when I refused to go places or do things that they wanted to do. That hurt too. But so did the cross.
Being a Christian means taking responsibility for your beliefs. It may also Involve being laughed at, fired from jobs, ridiculed, or even thrown in jail. Sure, God is with you to help you deal with the situations, but It’s still not fun.
Determine today to stand for what you know to be right, come what may!