Sarah's life was blighted by the lack of a son. In a society that
measured women's worth by their fertility, Sarah was barren. In a spirit of
noble self-sacrifice she offered her slave Hagar as a surrogate mother to
her husband Abraham. The plan back-fired. Hagar bore a son, Ishmael, and her
status shot up in the tribe; Sarah became even more despised. God came to her rescue. She conceived a son,
Isaac, yet at great personal cost.
How easily this can happen in our own lives. We develop a
plan, we know what’s right, at least what is best in our eyes. We will stop at
nothing to have it our way. We might convince ourselves what is good and right but
God knows better and chooses a different path. What is the good and gracious
will of God? It includes everything that God wants to do for us according to
His promise; “[God] will have all men to
be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth”. 1 Timothy 2:4 The good and gracious will of God
includes everything that God wants us to do and to avoid according to His will;
“This is the will of God, even your
sanctification.” 1 Thessalonians 4:3 The good and gracious will of God
includes everything that God wants us to suffer patiently according to His good
pleasure. “Then said Jesus unto His
disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his
cross and follow Me. “ Matthew 16:24
We sometimes have difficulty grasping the reality of God's
blessing. For this reason, we pray, “Thy
will be done, Lord.” We pray that God would strengthen and preserve us
steadfast in His Word and faith unto our end, so that we may at all times do
His will. “Make me to go in the path of
Thy commandments; for therein do I delight.” Psalm 119:35
O God, by the patient endurance of
Your only-begotten Son You beat down the pride of the old enemy. Help us to
treasure rightly in our hearts what our Lord has borne for our sakes, that,
after His example, we may bear with patience those things that are adverse to
us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Schnorr von Carolsfeld Woodcut used with
permission © WELS
Collect for patience Lutheran Service Book ©
2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
Luther’s Small Catechism © 1943 Concordia
Publishing House, St. Louis
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