March 12, 2024

Last night, Wanda and I had the joy of watching our 3-year-old grandson for a couple of hours. (He says he’s four because his buddy Ollie is four, but he’s only three :-)) What a precocious little rascal! He’s talkative, inquisitive, unbelievably polite, and has a definite opinion about EVERYTHING. And making him smile is one of life’s greatest pleasures. He brought his play electric screwdriver to me because it needed batteries. I found some and put them in. He wanted to make popcorn, even though we already had some made because watching it pop is half the fun. So we popped popcorn. He was disappointed because his toy flashlight didn’t work, so I gave him my small flashlight to play with. Wanda took him outside in the backyard to play, and then he made a huge train out of Legos and turned our living room into a railroad yard. The only wish of his we didn’t grant was his desire for jellybeans—the fifth time. Someday he’ll realize that there are limits to what his grandparents are willing to do for him. But if he stays this cute that day may be a good bit down the road.
That’s what love does to you, doesn’t it? It makes you willing. Willing to give. Willing to serve. Willing to help. Willing to sacrifice. When Jesus told the leper, “I am willing,” the leper had no idea the extent of those words. Jesus was willing to face criticism for even talking to the man. He was willing to face expulsion from the synagogue and temple for touching someone who was “unclean.” He was willing to be subjected to all kinds of false accusations and jealousy for healing the man. And this was just the BEGINNING!
So when YOU come to Jesus today, come to Him expectantly for He is not a reluctant God. He is WILLING! Willing to trade Heaven for Earth for you. Willing to be falsely accused for you. Willing to be unfairly arrested, unjustly convicted, and cruelly executed—ALL FOR YOU! Whatever your need, whatever your request, whatever your burden that you need to unload, know today that you come to a God who loves you even more than we love our adorable grandson. I’m not going to tell you that God will never say, “No,” or not have limits. He will. But He is also a Father who finds great joy in making His Children smile. He is a Willing God. That’s God’s Word for you today.