On the Job Site
God is God. Because He is God, He is worthy of my trust and obedience. I will find rest nowhere but in His holy will.
Elisabeth Elliot
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
-Matthew 6:10 NIV
Tyler’s Grandfather managed a construction company. The five-year old would often call his grandparents’ home early in the morning. He hoped to talk to his Grandfather before he hopped in his truck and headed to the work site.
One morning, before Grandma had a chance to yawn a sleepy “Good Morning,” Tyler blurted out, “I need to talk to Papa. I want to know if I can go to the job site with him today?”
His Grandmother and my wise friend, Jan, reflected on her Grandson’s sincere request and made an important observation. ”I wonder if our Heavenly Father is waiting for us to begin our day by asking if we can go to the job site with him?”
In many ways, Tyler’s desire to work alongside his Grandfather gives us insight into this portion of the Lord’s Prayer: “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” God invites us to join him in accomplishing his will in the world. Our desire to work alongside our Heavenly Father is a natural outcome of the relationship we share.
Tyler wanted to work alongside his grandfather because he loved him. We desire to do God’s will, to accomplish his mission on earth, because we love him too.
Perhaps, there is a secret to doing God’s will on earth as it is done in heaven. Could it be that our finest obedience, our most earnest and complete obedience occurs when our hearts are in tune with our Father? Does our obedience best reflect heaven when we understand that it is a privilege and honor to work alongside God and do his will in all things?
Our grandchildren will need to learn obedience in the same way that we are continuing to learn. My desire is that my grandchildren will begin many a day asking their Heavenly Father for the privilege of joining him in his work in the world.
Let Us Pray that…
+ Our grandchildren will have a growing desire to understand and do God’s will. (Romans 12:2)
+ Our grandchildren will acknowledge God in all of their decisions and choices and allow Him to direct their paths. Proverbs 3:5,6
+ Our grandchildren will understand that God has a good and perfect plan for them that they can trust without reservation. Jeremiah 20:11
+ Our grandchildren will humbly seek guidance and counsel for important decisions.
+ Our grandchildren will reject the temptation to do God’s will out of a legalistic attitude, but would rather obey God because of fully devoted hearts.( Psalm 51:16)
+ Our grandchildren will learn, as we are learning, to obey God daily out of willing and loving hearts.( Matthew 6:10)
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for inviting us to be part of your work in the world. I pray, dear Lord, that my grandchildren will seek your will above all else. May they be confident in your good plan for their lives. May they see daily obedience as the supreme evidence of their love for you. May they count it a privilege to be obedient servants of the Living God. Use their obedience to bring honor and glory to your name. Amen
Think and Do
! Psalm 40:7 (KJV) read, “I delight to do your will, O Lord.” Meditate on this verse and think about the reasons the Psalmist might have delighted in God’s will.
! Do you recall a time when you obeyed God and it was pure delight? Did your obedience stem from a legalistic attitude towards the will of God, or was another motivation behind your obedience?
! Look for a copy of Rick Warren’s children’s book on The Lord’s Prayer.
Thanks for this wonderful analogy. It applies not only to our grandchildren, but to our children and to each of us. You have a beautiful way of expressing God’s love for each of us. Thanks for sharing your gift from God.
Judy
Judy, thank you for your kind words. I have so much to learn about obedience..and when I understand it is an expression of love–well, it changes thiings for me. God Bless your weekend! I get to spend part of the weekend with three of our grandkids!