Tyler Campbell preached this past Sunday evening here at First Baptist Church in Lenoir City and he did a wonderful job. He told the story of the gym where he trains and the sign that hangs on the wall. The sign says “CAN NOT”; and has a very bold line drawn through it. What a powerful motivational tool! Too many people go through life worrying over whether or not they CAN accomplish something for the Lord. Praise God for the testimony of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:13 where he said, “I CAN do all things who Christ who strengthens me.” Indeed, nothing is impossible for God (Luke 1:27)! Therefore, if God is for us, who can be against us?! (Romans 8:31)
As I reflected on Tyler’s illustration, I realized that there probably needs to be one more phrase posted on the wall of my life and then struck through. That sign needs to say “WILL NOT”, with a very bold line drawn through it. For so often, my problem is less a matter of needing to be convinced that I CAN do something for God and is more a matter of overcoming my lack of WILL in an attempt to do something for God. Indeed, unWILLingness is a major problem that plagues many of us. The better question, therefore, is this: “Am I WILLing to undertake something for God?” For as the old adage puts it: “Where there’s a WILL, there’s a way!”
This was the attitude that sustained Jesus. This was the attitude that carried Him through life, and through death, and then back to life again. For it was in the garden that He prayed, “Not my WILL; but Your WILL be done, Oh God!” For my part, that is the attitude that I want to develop: the attitude of Christ that embraces the WILL of God and says I WILL do this thing for God, Who strengthens me for this purpose. Otherwise, I run the risk of coming to the end of life’s road only to see written across the pages of my life the words: “CAN NOT”, “WILL NOT”, and ultimately, “DID NOT”.
As I reflected on Tyler’s illustration, I realized that there probably needs to be one more phrase posted on the wall of my life and then struck through. That sign needs to say “WILL NOT”, with a very bold line drawn through it. For so often, my problem is less a matter of needing to be convinced that I CAN do something for God and is more a matter of overcoming my lack of WILL in an attempt to do something for God. Indeed, unWILLingness is a major problem that plagues many of us. The better question, therefore, is this: “Am I WILLing to undertake something for God?” For as the old adage puts it: “Where there’s a WILL, there’s a way!”
This was the attitude that sustained Jesus. This was the attitude that carried Him through life, and through death, and then back to life again. For it was in the garden that He prayed, “Not my WILL; but Your WILL be done, Oh God!” For my part, that is the attitude that I want to develop: the attitude of Christ that embraces the WILL of God and says I WILL do this thing for God, Who strengthens me for this purpose. Otherwise, I run the risk of coming to the end of life’s road only to see written across the pages of my life the words: “CAN NOT”, “WILL NOT”, and ultimately, “DID NOT”.