He's Not A Genie in a Bottle

1-7-2010
He’s not a Genie in a Bottle

Matthew 21:18-22 can certainly be a little optimistic, so it’s important we understand the context of what’s being said as it pertains to Biblical truth. It reads:

“18Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately the tree withered.
20When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. "How did the fig tree wither so quickly?" they asked.
21Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. 22If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

I’m sure many read verse 21-22 and get incredibly excited, so here’s the downer; God isn’t to be used as a genie in a bottle! While God can do all things and is all knowing, He grants us free will. God’s perfect will doesn’t come into play as a result of human sin. We have the free will to do right or do wrong. We aren’t a bunch of puppets walking around the earth. Rather, God allows us to make choices and we have good and bad consequences as a result. Here’s the good news, when our will is God’s will, all things can happen and do! In other words, we should earnestly pray that God gives us clarity and vision as to what He wants us to do. It’s not about what we want to do; rather it’s about what HE wants for our lives. Let’s pray that our will be His will, and His will be our will. It’s not about what we want; it’s what God wants for and through us!