THE FAITH OF CHRIST PUT ONTO PRACTICE

"Friend, do what you came for" (Mt.26.50)



This Bible passage gives us a little insight into the innermost life of Jesus, whose driving force and endeavour was to fulfil the will of the Father in word and deed. Everything that confronted Him in daily life He received as coming directly from His Father's hand and joyfully consented to His will. Therefore Jesus was content whatever approached Him, whether it meant submitting to His earthly parents or walking the path to Calvary in obedience to His heavenly father.

"He learned obedience from what He suffered" (Heb. 5.8). "He became obedient to death - even death on the cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place..." (Phil. 2.9) As Judas gave Him the devilish kiss of betrayal, Jesus saw him as a FRIEND and companion, even though He knew him to be an instrument of Satan.

But behind it all stood the Father, whose will was not only to redeem humankind, but also to fulfil the law of obedience and love to perfection through Jesus. Therefore the Lord could call Him companion, because everything that helped Him to fulfil the fatherly will was His FRIEND. With what pleasure the Father must have looked down on His beloved Son, who was so humble and obedient, that He even asked Judas to do what he came for. The kiss of betrayal did not offend Him, just as little as the betrayal surprised Him, for He knew that the hour and might of darkness had come, which He met calmly and unbowed in complete submission to everything this hour should bring. The father longs for such souls who in the trivial matters of daily life only recognise His hand and want to do His will. What glorious peace fills us, when we faithfully perform our daily duties and accept all the daily little troubles directly from the Fathers hand, testing us. By such an attitude of heart and will, even the most difficult circumstances and personalities are transformed into FIRENDS. God knows, what is necessary for our education. Therefore, let us hold still in all trials of our faith and patience, so that they can work in us what they are meant to. It is remarkable, how God educated the saints, He called to do great things, in the school of fulfilment of little, daily duties, even after He had already shown them their future great mission.

For example, Moses and David. During their waiting period, their patience was tried in various ways; but God carried them through, so that they could keep in step with Him and He could entrust them with great things, when finally His time had come.

We are often tempted to forget that the reign rests in His hands, and that He has more care and love for the lost souls than we can ever have in all our eagerness. But the Lord needs co-workers who are educated in perfect obedience and tested therein, so that He can completely depend on them and use them at the right time.

In every moment in our life exist the possibility to glorify God; therefore, don't let us blame from the start the devil for our troubles and trials. Instead of avoiding them, we want to say: "Friend, do what you came for." Such attitude glorifies God and furthers our growth in a special way. Our self-will must be crucified in all of us, for God hates our self-will and send constantly various trials to supress it. In this way we become immersed ever deeper in the death of Christ and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.; for this little trials bring us into full union and harmony with the will of God.