1 - Introduction - Living like a real Christian JOY | Page 7

love that He would vindicate you in the eyes of your accusers. Then trust the principle that “the
truth always rises to the top” will happen on your behalf.

THURSDAY
Matthew 6 v 9 – 13
I would like to continue with the theme of what we were talking about yesterday by
referencing a verse in the well-knownprayer that the Lord taught to His disciples. It is found in
the phrase, “Thy will be done…” (verse 10). This is a key verse and for those who are
quietened by God’s love, are able to say, “Thy will be done Lord” with a certain confidence
that comes only to those who understand the quietness that comes from God’s love.
There are a number of ways and tones of voice that can be used in saying “Thy will be done.”
The first tone that could be used would be the tone that would suggest one of “active
rebellion”. This is the tone of the person who shakes his fist in the face of God, declaring, “Oh
all right, you’re much bigger than me, I can’t compete with you therefore your will be done.”
This is the tone that Jonah would have used when God instructed him to go to Nineveh and,
after his three-day experience inthe belly of a fish, Jonah would have expressed his feeling as
being one of “active rebellion”.
The second tone that could be used is one of “passive resignation”. It’s the tone of somebody
who has given up the fight and just passively resigns himself to “what will be, will be”. A
picture of this would be seen in the occupants of Jerusalem, prior to Nehemiah’s arrival,
where they had passively resigned themselves to the fact that they would never be able to
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
The third tone, is the tone that would suggest “positive relaxation” where, when faced with
circumstances that would seem somewhat confusing or unfavourable, the person would
respond to God, having been quietened by His love, simply saying, “Lord, I do not understand
Your ways, but I am more than happy and indeed joyful to submit myself to Your will being
done.” This is the cry of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane where, knowing full well the
trauma that was to follow, He was relaxed in the fact that the events soon to follow, he knew,
were all part of the preordained plan of God, His Father.
For us we are quick to acknowledge that there are very often confusing circumstances in our
lives that are very often considered to be unfair. It is at times like this that we need to respond
appropriately by recognising God’s hand in all of this and responding in such a way that it
reflects our belief that all things work together for the good of those who love God… (Romans
8 v 28)