for I know whom I have believed, and
am persuaded that he is able to keep that which
I have committed unto him against that day.
II Timothy 1:12
Simon and the crew had already fished all night and caught nothing; Simon reminded the Lord of that. HOWEVER... Despite that fact... notwithstanding... NEVERTHELESS... In other words, casting aside all that he knew, all that he had already done, Simon obeyed. ...Nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a GREAT multitude of fishes: and their net BRAKE. Luke 5:5,6.
Know this: Simon had a question in his mind; some might even say he doubted that the Lord was correct, NEVERTHELESS, he obeyed. That marks the difference between his action and ours: we question, we BALK, and then we cannot be moved. Sorry, isn't it, that our faith cannot be as unshakeable as our stubborn will!
"...I am glad for your sakes that I was not there..." Had Jesus been present when Lazarus fell sick, He would have healed him. There would have been no issues about him being in a tomb for four days and stinking. It was for their sakes, so they could see and believe the power of God when Lazarus was called forth from that tomb. Jesus wanted them to see, to witness the power of God firsthand--the memory of such would help sustain them in what they would face later on "down the road".
Nevertheless... Not taking anything away from the weight of the fact that Lazarus was already beyond what the rest of them could do for him, Jesus said, "Let us go unto him." Of course, there was only ONE amongst their number Who could actually "go unto" Lazarus: that was Jesus Christ Himself. ONLY He could span the division between physical life and death, but yet He wanted them there with Him when He called Lazarus forth from that tomb.
Death didn't mean a thing to Jesus, insofar, as being beyond HIS reach! Have you ever considered the lengths that God goes to with us to prove Himself to us? We want to get out of, back away from, jump over, or detour every adversity in life instead of leaning on the everlasting arms of our Redeemer for the lesson He has in it for us!
Lessons are sent to us for many reasons. Some of them are to strengthen our faith--get us off the milk and pablum diet and onto the meat of The Word. Some lessons are sent to build compassion within us for others. Many are sent upon us to draw us CLOSER to God. Some are strictly for their conviction power. The list goes on and on and on, but each period of adversity in our lives should not be wasted by us whining our way through it. I mean, seeing as to how we're going through it, let's get some benefit out of it! Amen? Learn a lesson, shuck a bad habit, develop stronger faith in God, learn to search and study the Bible! Many of the televangelists and other false teachers would have you believe that once you give (or send) them your money, you will "never again be faced with adversity". They are LYING to you! Don't fall for it!
And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: NEVERTHELESS not what I will, but what thou wilt. Mark 14:36.
And he...kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: NEVERTHELESS not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed MORE earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Luke 22:41-44.
Notice what comes before NEVERTHELESS in each rendering of that same scene. Then mark what comes after NEVERTHELESS in each of them: this is the pattern for those who have taken up their cross to follow Christ: Not my will, but Thine be done.
Understand something: God IS going to have HIS Way, in ALL things. However, our lives are made the more simple (and blessed) when we are willing to accept His Will. We try to live with an attitude of total disregard for the Will of God, but friends, it only makes the lessons harder and the blessings fewer.
He knew what He was about to endure on the cross, in order to open that ALL-IMPORTANT door to our Father in Heaven, was going to be physically painful. Don't get caught up into thinking just because He is God that He didn't know what it meant to feel physical pain! Even so, I said, EVEN SO, as in Nevertheless, He was willing to suffer not only MORE public humiliation, but indescribeable agony. At any moment, He could have spoken His tormentors dead. At any moment, He could have summoned the powers of Heaven to spare Himself.
"...Not what I will, but what Thou wilt..."
"...Not my will, but Thine, be done..."
Folks, we had better put NEVERTHELESS back into our daily lives. I repeat: God's Will IS going to be done. Our peace of mind, our happiness, that joy unspeakable and full of glory (I Peter 1:12) that we can have in our lives is fully dependant upon us being willing to accept the Will of God! We lack and fall short because we are UNwilling to include NEVERTHELESS in our lives!
Time after time after time Paul endured Forty Stripes Save One: Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. II Corinthians 11:24-27.
Now notice again, what comes after the NEVERTHELESS there in II Timothy 1:12. Come on, read it with me: NEVERTHELESS I am NOT ashamed: for I KNOW WHOM I have believed, and AM PERSUADED that HE IS ABLE to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, O my soul!
Are you persuaded? Do you KNOW in Whom you have believed? Are you SURE? Or are you limiting God according to your own weaknesses and inabilities? If we can EVER come to a true, CLEAR, understanding of Who God is, we would be thrilled to say, no matter what happens, NEVERTHELESS. And until we can, until we do, we will be assailed by fear and doubt, worry and stress.
Thy Will Be Done, Lord
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