Be done

“yet not My will, but Thine be done.” Luke 22:42

Be done – Sometimes we need a peak at the Greek verb in order to see how marvelous the idea really is.  This verb (ginomai) tells us something truly wonderful if we take the time to understand it.  The verb itself means, “to become”.  Jesus says, “Father, let your will become reality.”  Jesus chooses not to be the god of his own life.  The verb is an imperative.  He literally commands God to fulfill God’s will in him.  “Father, I put my desires aside.  Do Your will now!”  But that’s not all.

With this verb form Jesus expresses the thought that the Father will do what must be done for the sake of the Father’s purposes.  The will and the action of God are to be united in the self-denial of Jesus.  What is going to happen will no longer be about Jesus.  It will be about the Father.

This tiny word really tells us something amazing.  “Let Your will become what You have always known it should be.  Let Your will be the reality that You desire because I now give You all of me to do as you choose.  Bring into being what You intend through me.  It is no longer about me at all, Father.  It’s about You.”

Isn’t God absolutely amazing?  In this tiny word we see that God actually places His purposes within the realm of human cooperation.  It was up to Jesus to be obedient to the Father.  He was not forced to obey.  He was asked to obey.  Jesus’ example points out just how vulnerable God has made His purposes.  Yes, there are plans of the Father that cannot be thwarted.  But in some mysterious way, God asks for our cooperation.  He waits for us to say, “Yet not my will but Your will become reality.”  God’s purposes for each of us stand waiting for you and I to echo the words of His Son.

Every time you say the Lord’s Prayer, you repeat this thought.  “Thy kingdom come of earth” is a statement that you intend to set aside your will and allow God’s desire to become reality though you.  This happens the moment you stop trying to control the consequences of life and trust completely in the coming reality of the Father.  This happens when it’s no longer about you.  When I become nothing, God can do anything through me.