MEMORY VERSE: He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done (Matthew 26:42).

The four most difficult words to say are these: "THY WILL BE DONE." They are a declaration of complete submission to the will of another. Our stubborn will does not surrender easily.

Perhaps the reason we have so much trouble giving in to God's will is our fear that He will give us some task that we will not enjoy or that He will send us to some place that is not pleasant. We forget that God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him.

Dr. James M. Gray wrote: "I once saw a painting of a large boat laden with cattle that were being ferried across an angry, swollen river in time of storm. The artist had so cleverly pictured the dark, threatening clouds and the play of the treacherous, jagged lightning I instantly concluded that the freight of the poor dumb cattle was marked for destruction. But the title of the painting was simply 'Changing Pasture.' Many times we imagine that God's plans mean disaster and affliction, but He is only 'changing pastures' for our good and the good of others."

Hudson Taylor shared some lessons He had learned about submitting to God's will. He said, "I am no longer anxious about anything, as I realize the Lord is able to carry out His will, and His will is mine. It makes no matter where He places me, or how. That is rather for Him to consider than for me; for in the easiest positions He must give me His grace, and in the most difficult, His grace is sufficient."

Here then is a safe prayer: "THY WILL BE DONE."

Angels must have marveled at the cruelty of man when the Son of God was prepared for crucifixion. The One whom heaven praised was rejected, humiliated, and mocked by Pilate's soldiers. As a part of their mockery, they placed a crown of thorns upon His head.

Though the wicked soldiers did not realize it, their handmade ugly crown was symbolic. Christ was made a curse for us in order to redeem us. Notice the place of thorns in the curse brought by sin: And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field (Genesis 3: 17, 18).

Nature has suffered because of the sins of man. Christ died to pay for our sins. When He returns to reign, the earth will know release. All creation awaits that day: For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body (Romans 8:22,23).

The work of Christ on the cross was a complete work.

And we are complete in Him!