The Third Petition
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. What does this mean?
The good and gracious will of God is done even without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also. How is God’s will done? God’s will is done when he breaks and hinders every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature, which do not want us to hallow God’s name or let His kingdom come; and when He strengthens and keeps us firm in His Word and faith until we die.This is His good and gracious will.
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od is in constant control of the universe. Nothing happens without His knowing about it. But don’t confuse God’s control and knowledge with His will. Forgetting your locker combination or having a zit could be God’s will, if it somehow breaks or hinders the evil plans and desires of the devil, the world, or your old sinful nature. But it could just be part of the chaotic reality of our fallen lives. Not everything that happens is God’s will. Sin isn’t. There are realms of this world where freedom means there are chances, such as a dice roll to determine who goes first in a Monopoly game. It is not sinful to roll dice for a family board game. And it is not necessarily God’s will that you win or lose a relatively meaningless game. Even though they can be abused, God wants us to enjoy ourselves in the things of this creation. He gave them to us. In Christ we are free. Not every step, every decision, every word we say has been predestined or mandated from on high so that we have to worry about goofing it up. God blesses us and the choices we make for Christ’s sake. So what is God’s will for your life? God’s will is revealed to us in God’s Word. It says that His will is that you believe and live in Him.That is it. All the choices outside of that are yours. Really. It is that simple. You can’t mess it up.The Bible doesn’t answer specific questions about life, like which boy you should go to the prom with or which part-time job you should take, because in Christ you have freedom. God promises to bless the choices you make. Even the most critical decisions of our lives (which college to attend, which girl to marry, which Supervalue menu item to order) are not that big of a deal from a cosmic perspective. It is like we are a bunch of kindergartners let loose on life’s playground.The playground is full of equipment and choices.You try to decide if
By Rev. David Petersen
Peering into the Future and Making the Right Choices G
you’ll go for the merry-go-round or the slide. There are things that influence your decision. The line at the slide might be long, you may not want to risk getting your pants dirty, or your friends might urge you to play tetherball instead.Those things help you make the choice. But whatever choice you make, unless you are trying to sin, God will bless it. When you look back on it, it will seem obvious, even, at times, like it was the only real choice.You’ll stand at the top of the slide and realize the wait was worth it. It was the right choice. Or you’ll revel in the joy of tetherball and the companionship of your friends. And that will have been the right choice. Either way it will not be because you could have made a wrong decision that displeased God. It will be because God blessed you in your freedom. He makes your choices the right ones. He also intervenes to keep you safe. He is control. He is interested in the choices you make. In fact, you fascinate Him. He is madly in love with you. He has counted the hairs on your head! Though the choices are yours, He is involved. Sometimes when we are debating the merits of the swings and the teeter-totter we find out the swings are broken. God guides us. It is not so much that He forces us into a decision. It is just that He keeps us from things that are harmful. Maybe you don’t get into the college you thought you wanted. Perhaps God sees something there that would be dangerous for you.You still have choices and He will bless the choice you make. But He has intervened to keep you from the swings because there was broken glass on the ground that you never even knew about. God’s desire for you can’t be overstated.You are as dear to Him as His own Son, as flawless and perfect, as holy and righteous, and beautiful and darling! All that to say, relax. Enjoy life.Your heavenly Father has given you His Son. He has forgiven all your sins. How will He not then also give you all things? He will.
The Rev. David Petersen is pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
