Is “His” will something that we truly desire to be done, or are we really seeking our own will?
We may not instantly recognize it, but the underlying question within us really is… Do we resent when God is kind toward others? Kind, generous, gracious. Whatever we think kind to be. Do we perhaps compare and think that in this He has not seemed to be that kind to us?
Do we show contempt when others seem to get blessed, and we think they shouldn’t be. If we have ever found ourselves in this place, according to Roman’s 2:4, we could be ultimately working against God’s will.
“Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?” -Romans 2:4
Whoa… not just working against His purpose for others either, but towards our own salvation. When I think about how God should be handling a certain situation, compared to how He actually is, I’m forced to look at my own condition. One lacking mercy maybe? At the very least my level of mercy or even forgiveness starts to look decidedly dim in light of His desired outcome, His will.
In His will, this God still saw fit to protect a kingdom to a man named David. To establish His seed (Jesus) through this man. He could have been deemed or remembered rather as a murderous adulterer as his story reveals in 2 Samuel of the Bible. But what do we find? We find that this God instead chooses to protect David’s status as king, showed as continuously acknowledging him as “the King” throughout the book.
So what are we to do when we recognize these feelings of “why me, not them” rise up? The short answer: repent. It is nearly impossible to be kind on the outside when there are any feelings of bitterness or contempt on the inside. OK, we can try… but this only lasts for a little while.
Do we really want His will to be done or our own?
What size do we want the mercy stick extended to us to be? We must learn to wait until the end of the matter if that is what we would have others do with us. Of course, this is beyond our own will. His will is required to see it through.
“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” -Matt 5:44
It’s up to us. David had a son that tried to usurp his position… Absalom. To this day, the tomb of Absalom is used as a warning for rebellious children. They’re made to throw rocks at it as a reminder not to disobey their parents.
Why is this relevant for us? We can use it as a reminder that when we show contempt against someone else when God Himself has chosen to show them kindness, we have placed ourselves in a type of judgement seat and therefore outside of God’s will. We are in essence disobeying our parents by choosing our own will.
Truth, not being tied to any earthly thing, simply cannot be stopped from manifesting, as well as producing the affects of the One who desires it, the One who made it. David’s name was protected to the point where the kingdom fought over him, for him to be their king! God made it to be so. His will….
May the extent of God’s mercy penetrate us on a whole new level!
