A WILLING MIND
And you, my son Solomon,
acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion
and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands
every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but
if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.
1 Chronicles 28:9
It’s one thing
to be good at something, to have the ability, power, or giftedness to make
something happen. It’s quite another to be willing to use it.
Pharaoh had the
power to let the Israelites go, but he wasn’t willing (Exodus 10:27). Bezalel,
Oholiab, and other skilled men and women had the ability and knowledge in all
kinds of craftsmanship that were needed for the construction of the Tabernacle,
and were willing to come and do the work (Exodus
36:2).
King David
understood the importance of willingness. He instructed his son Solomon to
serve God with a willing mind, and it was his personal prayer: Restore to me the joy of your salvation and
grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me (Psalm 51:12).
God speaks to us
through His creation, His Word, His Spirit, and others. He prompts thoughts
during Bible reading, morning runs, afternoon commutes, and coffee with
friends. When He nudges us to write a note, or whispers that we’ve been
neglecting time in the Word, or presses a person or situation firmly in our
spirit, how do we respond? Are we willing or reluctant? Do we obey or retort
with excuses and delay tactics?
If you’re
currently mulling over something you know God is prompting you to do, think on
this: The LORD searches every heart and
understands every motive behind the thoughts (1 Chronicles 28:9). We may
fool others and even ourselves with our reluctance, but we’ll never deceive God.
He sees and understands all of our thoughts, words, and ways.
Nehemiah thought
about the broken walls of Jerusalem, and after fasting and prayer was willing
to take the lead to rebuild it. Isaiah saw
the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and heard His question, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And he readily and willingly responded, “Here
am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:1,8). When the Holy Spirit repeatedly warned Paul
that prison and hardship were part of his future, he didn’t stall or turn
around. Instead he willingly followed where God led and said, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if
only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me –
the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace (Acts 20:23-24)
Think on it: How willing are you to complete the task
the Lord Jesus has given to you?
The faith that saves is the total
response of the whole self to the will of God. It is the response of the
mind in belief, the heart in trust, the will in conduct. It is to accept
the fact that God goes all out for us, and then to be willing to go all out for
God.
John
Redhead
grace and peace,
Lenae
