√ Reality Check

Hebrews Chapter 5

Scripture: Hebrews 5:7-8
"who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered."

Observation: These two verses immediately jumped out to me. Jesus cried out to his heavenly Father in the garden of Gethsemane, “Abba, (Daddy) Father all things are possible for You. Take this cup from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will” Mark 14:36. Hebrews 5:7 states that God heard his prayer because of his godly fear. This is very interesting because the Father did not take the crucifixion away for Jesus at all. Maybe Jesus prayer that was most important was not the “take this cup from me part but instead was the “but what you will part.” It is obvious that Jesus wanted the suffering of his trial and the crucifixion to be removed. As a human who wouldn’t? It is interesting though, that the other prayer he offered really nullifies his first request. “Not my will but yours be done.” He didn’t want to do it, and he admitted it! But verse 8 tells us that he learned obedience by suffering; that is surrendering his will to his Father’s. Jesus’ prayer was answered; the Fathers will was done.

Application: I am seeing here that there is nothing wrong with expressing my will and desires. I mean really being honest with God. It is not like he doesn’t know the truth anyway. I don’t think the announcement of my humanness is such a surprise to Jesus. After all chapter 4:15 tells us that he has been there done that and bought the T-shirt. He understands how I feel. He knows what I am going through. His example to me is to surrender to the will of our Heavenly Father. To trust that God’s will is always the best despite the outcome. I need to trust that my obedience to God’s will, will answer every prayer that I could ever offer. I don’t think that God is disappointed with my fear; instead I believe that he expects me to give it to him and trust him with my life. I have not been given a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7).

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to be honest like you before Father God and then to submit to His will. Help me to see the truth and live in the truth that my Heavenly Father’s will is always the best for me, because I am in relationship with you and you are Love and Goodness itself.

Posted by Reality Check on Thursday, July 27, 2006 at 12:08 PM | Permalink