Willfulness

If I asked you how you define sin, what would you say?  If you asked me, I'd probably answer with, "Missing the mark," or, "lawlessness" (1 John 3:4).  I recently listened to a message by a guy named Ken Graves.  Coincidentally, that message was entitled "Be a Man."  Lol!  If you want, you can check out that message here.  In any case, in his message, Ken Graves defined sin as "willfulness."

What's interesting is that his definition lines up with what I've been noticing as I've read through the Gospel of John.  What did Jesus come to do?  Some would say that He came to die for the sins of the world.  Others would say that He came to demonstrate for us the "most excellent way" (1 Corinthians 12:31).  Both of those answers are correct and point to the larger reason for Jesus coming in the flesh:  to do the will of the One who sent Him.

Numerous times in the book of John, Jesus mentions how He can only do what the Father does, how He only seeks to please the Father, or how His words are not His own (John 5:19 & 30; 6:38; 7:16 & 28; 8:28-29 & 42; 12:49-50; 14:10 & 24).  Jesus was truly all about His Father's work and will; He wasn't caught up in what He willed, but deferred to the Father.

In fact, we can see examples of Jesus denying Himself so that the Father could be glorified by others.  If we look at John 11:4-6, we see a situation where people whom Jesus loved (v.5) were in distress; yet, instead of going to them immediately, He, being led by the Spirit (v.6), stayed where He was for 2 more days.  Of course, we know the rest of the story of Lazarus' death and how Jesus raised him from the dead.  But think of Jesus in His humanity.

He had emptied Himself of His divine power before coming to earth (Philippians 2:7)--He was working in the power of the Spirit, just as you and I can today.  He wasn't peaking ahead in time and seeing how it would end; rather, Jesus was trusting in the Father (v.4).  So when Jesus received the news of Lazarus' sickness, I'm sure His flesh did the same thing that our flesh usually does--spring up with anxiety.  Can you hear the anxious thoughts?  "Lazarus is dying!  You have the power to save him, so do it!"

But Jesus pushed back His own will to see Lazarus, and those anxious thoughts, and did the will of the Father (through the prompting of the Spirit).  He waited 2 more days and Lazarus died; however, ultimately, Lazarus lived and God was glorified by multitudes (John 11:45; 12:9-11).  In Jesus we see the perfect example of how to have a trusting and loving relationship with God!  Yet, when issues arise in our lives, everything just goes right out the window, right?  Lol!  I know it gets like that with me.  Recently, I've had issues with college--my professors don't want me to graduate on time.  Though I've done the required work, they've told me that I haven't done enough to graduate.  They've even began to throw out suggestions that I could graduate in May of 2011.  I'm in a 5-year major, so you can imagine how them suggesting another year made me feel!

Almost immediately I was upset and anxious, crying out to God because of the situation.  Then I recognized how Jesus lived His life--in TRUE self-denial.  Thoughts came to mind like, "What if God wants to get glory from your graduation struggles?" and "Why are you really upset?"  Honestly, I was upset because this wasn't happening the way I wanted it to happen, and because, ultimately, I don't want to fail.  Truly, I have never read of Jesus having such an attitude as this in the Scriptures.  Lol!

Willfulness is the sin that flies beneath the radar.  It gets you and I to think that we are truly souled-out for the Lord, when really we just want what we want--not God's will, but our will be done.  God has given us LIFE!!!  Are we willing to abandon all else for this marvelous gift and the marvelous Giver?

I'm not even going to assume to know what you, the reader, needs; but I need to continually remember that God is not some unruly dictator who could care less for my well-being.  God knows what I need, and He gives it to me.  That may sometimes line up with what I want; but I must trust God regardless because He can see the things that I can't--He knows better than me.  After all, He is sovereign.  So when the issue of will arises, I must live as though I have none; for my will died with Christ, and only the Father's will resurrected with me when I was born again.