TEXT: Matthew 6:10
By Bro. Stephen Umukoro
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Introduction
Man’s will against God’s will, has been problematic throughout human history. Many face destruction because of the attitude – 2 Corinthians 5:10. When God created the Angels and human, he granted them freedom of choice. This favour, if properly understood is an expression of His love to this creatures. God is love – 1 John 4:8.
Granting freedom of choice to them does not mean that He made them to be independent. They need to obey Him and carry out His requirements. The earthly man needed His guard and guidance, provision, protection and cares – 1 Peter 5:7.
Thus in the beginning God established a spiritual relationship with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. According to the scripture, God often visit them – Genesis 3:8. What a glorious relationship it would have been, if they had maintained it. In our world today, technologically, human has invented some robots that can be programmed to follow every command. We should be grateful to God we are not made like the robots but made in His own image and likeness – Genesis 1:26.
Naturally, everyone of us human love to some measure of freedom and that is what God want us to enjoy. He want us to obey and serve Him willingly. God is not interested in services perform under compulsion, but services perform out of a willing mind. For instance, when God was to enter into a covenant with the nation of Israel, He did not compel them against their will rather God demanded for their cooperation and willingness – Exodus 19:4‐8.
God as a faithful Father would not have created angels and humans with freedom of choice and at the same time compel them to do His will if they choose to obey.
ABUSED OF FREEDOM OF CHOICE
Some angels and man, made the worst use of this favour for instance, Lucifer Son of the morning who was highly favoured with exalted position in heaven transgressed. Worship is to be exclusively offer to Jehovah God – Exodus 20:3,
Matthew 4:10. Satan coveted for worship to be offer to him – Isaiah 14:12‐14, 2 Thessalonians 2:3‐5.
Our progenitor Adam and Eve also abused their freedom of choice as they listen and acted upon the advice of satan rather than God’s commandment – Genesis 3:4‐ 6.
NATURE OF THE FALLEN MAN
The falling of man in the Garden of Eden affected his perfect nature as he now become spiritually debased, paving way to the laws of sin to operate in him which in turn rendered him incapacitated in doing the will of God. Apostle Paul testimony in Romans 7:19‐23 revealed why it become so difficult for we humans to do the will of God and use our freedom of choice to the glory of God.
A SAVIOUR SENT
For man to be conscious of his spiritual need and be able to do the will of God, Jesus was sent to teach us the way – John 14:6 couple with the bible – God’s inspired word – 2 Timothy 3:11‐17, 1 Peter 1:20‐21. During Jesus sermon on the mountain, he taught his disciples on how to pray – Matthew 6:9‐13. In vs 10, Jesus prayed that the kingdom of God should come so that God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven. So among other things, the purpose of setting up the kingdom is to teach and empower members to be able to do the will of God – 1 Thessalonians 2:12.
the teaching of Jesus, if put into practice will help elevate our thinking, show us how to improve our conduct. It is also support us in our struggle to do what is right in other to bring out the best in us.
As children of the kingdom, we are inexcusable if we don’t make proper use of our freedom of choice in harmony with what God wants. Jesus Christ our Master has taught us and practicalize it that the will of God should have pre‐eminence above our will thus our attitude should be “Not my will, but Thy will be done ” – Matthew 26:39.
WRONG ATTITUDE
Today, Christians too are so wrapped up in wrong usage of their freedom of choice. Therefore, our behaviour or attitude that is supposed to show spiritual and high moral standards is falling because of our attitude of disobedient and unwillingness to submit to the will of God. For instance, the will of God is that the gospel should be preached to all and sundry – Matthew 20:19‐20, Mark 16:15‐16. It is a command.
Despite well‐meaning effort of the church to encourage evangelism, some of us have refused to participate in this assignment given to us by the Lord but always punctual and constant in social invitation because you see the preaching of the gospel as a matter of choice.
Therefore, your nonchalant attitude toward evangelism is not an act of disobedient because freedom of choice is your right. Congratulation, freedom of choice has made some of us to have find it an easy thing or pleasurable to always forsake the assemblies of the saints – Hebrews 10:25 or other activities of the church.
The church is doing her best through edification to discourage members from immodest/indecent dressing and ostentation from evil appearance which is according to the fashion of the world. Yet some have refused to change because they have a choice.
Because of freedom of choice, some of us have refused to drop habits which we have developed before our conversion. Now you know they are not in harmony with what God wants, what stop you from repentance? What about your life style that is in conformity to the pattern of this world, you know it that you need to be transformed – Romans 12:1‐2.
You love it because that is your choice. The church delegates brethren to visit a brother or sister, you are aware that your name was mentioned but you immediately after closing prayer or sometime before prayer you left unnoticed without cogent reason disobeying the church. In your reasoning, to carry out this assignment is a matter of choice.
Conclusion
Let us cultivate the attitude of obedience and submissiveness, this will help us to make proper use of our freedom of choice.
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