Boundary 7: God’s Plan

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Matthew 4:1-11

I don’t know about you but if I had the choice, I would absolutely choose to skip an appointment with the devil himself. The important word in this scripture is that Jesus was “led” into the Wilderness. He didn’t decide to go on his own, the Holy Spirit guided him, which means he was following God’s will to a divine appointment. I could go on about what happened in the wilderness and why but maybe I’ll cover that in another post. The point is:

Jesus had the option to do what he wanted yet he chose to fulfill God’s will. (John 10:18)

Jesus disregarded how he wanted to live in order to fulfill God’s will. Knowing that God has called us to act and even though it may be uncomfortable or undesirable isn’t always easy but it is always worth it. God will honor your sacrifice every single time you make one in his name!

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39  

In the Garden of Gethsemane (Get-Sem-Many), Jesus prayed to let the cup (a.k.a. the crucifixion) pass from him but if there was no other way, God’s will should be done. For our sake, God did not stop the crucifixion. Jesus took the death penalty we were owed and broke the sin barrier between us and God so that anyone who believed in the finished work of Jesus would have everlasting life.

Jesus’s personal preferences never stopped him from moving forward.

We must decide to be about our father’s business, even when it isn’t easy! Even when the world is against us. Even when we’re alone and no one but God stands with us. Jesus decided to go into the Wilderness and to the cross to bring God glory and to save us.

What personal desires get in the way of what God called you to accomplish?