May 7 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Matthew 26:36-46:

³⁶Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
³⁷And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
³⁸Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
³⁹And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
⁴⁰And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
⁴¹Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
⁴²He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
⁴³And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.
⁴⁴And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
⁴⁵Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
⁴⁶Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.

Devotional

We can know God's will only from his Word, and only so far as He has revealed it. The secret will of God nobody knows. But He has clearly revealed his will concerning our salvation. Jesus said, "This is the will of him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life." But by nature our will is opposed to God's will, even in the matter of salvation. "Ye will not come to me, " says Christ, "that ye might have life." If God allowed us to have our own way, we would never be saved. And so we must pray, "Grant that we and all men may renounce our own will, and yield ourselves without gainsaying to thy will, which alone is good." (Heidelberg Catechism, 124).

There is only one who has done the will of God perfectly; that is Jesus Christ. It was his delight and his meat to do the will of God. In his greatest agony He prayed, "Not my will, but thine be done." And, oh, the marvel! His perfect obedience is set to our account, if we believe in him. He cried, "It is finished." God's will was done, our salvation was secured. How shall we show our thankfulness? By submitting to his will. May God "make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen"

Prayer

O Lord, teach us to do Thy will, for Thou art our God. Grant that we and all men may renounce our own will, and without gainsaying obey Thy will, which alone is good; that so every one may fulfil his office and calling as willingly and faith­fully as the angels do in heaven. Help us to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and that we may live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, looking for the glorious coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

---

Scripture in Devotional: John 6:40; 5:40; Ps. 40:8; John 4:34; Luke 22:42; Heb. 13:21.

Click here for background on Light and Comfort and the author.