WESTERN THEOLOGY

…not my will, but yours be done. Luke 22:42 (NIV)

A friend was recently comparing the French Revolution to the American Revolution. He reminded us that while the American Revolution was about religion, the French Revolution focused on reason. David went on to say that this latest cultural revolution is neither religion nor reason; it’s all about feeling. “I’m okay; you’re okay.” And the individual is the center of his universe.

We sacrifice truth for political correctness; we discard discipline for indulgence; and we trump righteousness with personal rights. We have forgotten that our lives are to reflect Jesus who prayed, “…not my will, but yours be done.” Our contemporary thinking, if we think at all about God, is, “not your will, but mine be done.” We really want and expect God to bless our plans, our self-orientation, and to give us our rights. And how infrequently do we think of sacrificing ourselves for others?

Oswald Chambers, Bible teacher from another time, said that we must become God-conscious rather than self-conscious. Attending to God brings us to the place where we desire his will; it creates space for others; and we finally move into real fulfillment. We’ve got it backwards. Self-consciousness diminishes us while God-consciousness enlarges our world view and brings true enrichment.

When I was a child, we sang a song: Jesus and others and you, what a wonderful way to spell joy. J is for Jesus, for he has first place. O is for others we meet face to face. Y is for you in whatever you do. Put yourself last and spell joy.

Father, help us to be God-conscious in a world that seems to increasingly value self-realization. Help us to pray for your will and grace us to joyously live that out. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.