The Will of the People

Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10

My life took a little detour this week. I was summoned to jury duty. As I write, I sit with at least 100 other prospective jurors amid rows of less than generously cushioned gray chairs in the jury selection room.

The King’s Speech plays on a screen in the front of the room, an attempt to entertain our thoughts away from the wearying reality that we’re still waiting. Most of us have yet to serve. It’s now day three.

Our first morning, however, a different film graced the screen. An educational video designed to enlighten us to the inner workings of our court system encouraged us to enthusiastically embrace the great privilege of serving as jurors. We were told our presence here is a great honor. I’m not sure how many bought it. I don’t think “enthusiastic” aptly describes most of the people joining me in this room.

Enthusiasm aside, their video did offer some compelling thoughts. One particular statement captured my attention and prompted me to write today.

The court serves at the will of the people.

This isn’t news to me. I doubt it’s news to you. From early childhood we’re taught to be grateful for the wonderful principles of democracy on which our great nation was founded: Government by the people, for the people, of the people.

The people hold the power.

And so we fight to see that our desires and goals receive the merit they deserve. We push to ensure that our own will becomes the one the governent serves. We are, after all, “right” about what we believe. So we war with one another, even within the body of Christ.

That’s a troubling observation, considering Jesus words in John 17:22-23.

“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

Jesus prayed for complete unity within His body, that we would be one in the same way that He and the Father are one—same thoughts, same heart, same desires. That unity will be evident to the world, and the world will understand it as an expression of God’s love.

That’s a pretty tall order. It seems impossible to conceive that every believer could unite completely, sharing common desires and serving to establish one common purpose.

But it will happen. One day. Jesus always prays within the Father’s will, so He always gets what He prays for. The question is, will you and I be a part of that glorious day, or will it wait for another generation?

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it . . .  James 4:1-2

Our quarrels find their root in our own selfish desires. We allow our flesh to govern our wills, often without even realizing it. We feel our convictions so strongly, we just assume they come from God. The problem is, we will always believe that we are right, even when we’re wrong.

Every man’s way is right in his own eyes . . . Proverbs 21:2 (NKJV)

Before a life-changing encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus, a Pharisee named Saul murdered Christians. He knew God’s Word. He was a devout defender of his faith. He believed with everything in him that God wanted him to stop people from moving away from religion as he knew it to follow the teachings of Jesus.

He was wrong.

And once he withdrew to allow God to reveal His truth to his seeking heart, he emerged the Apostle Paul. Still a fervent defender of his faith, but now serving in line with God’s true desires. Paul lived Jesus teachings from Luke 9:23. He denied himself, took up the cross of his Christ, and carried the true Gospel message throughout the known world.

Oh, what God can do with one yielded heart! Imagine what He could do with thousands. Beloved, will you offer him yours?