More Than a Feeling

Did you ever wake up and just feel like not doing anything? Maybe you were under the weather. Maybe you were tired from “overdoing it” the day before. Or maybe, you were just feeling a little down and out. The truth is, sometimes the way we feel dictates our actions. Thank goodness our salvation isn’t based on feelings!

As Christians, we may not always “feel” like doing things we know we should. We might not feel like reading our Bible on a daily basis. We may sit out a few Sundays from church because we don’t feel like going. We may even find ourselves entrenched in sin, because we simply don’t feel like doing the right thing. If it were left up to us, our feelings would eventually lead us into some very dark and dangerous places.

During His time on earth, Jesus had feelings. He became weary. He felt hunger and thirst. He even demonstrated feelings at the hearing of the death of a friend (“Jesus wept.”). However, His divine nature would not allow feelings to get in the way of His purpose. In the garden of Gethsemane, just prior to His crucifixion, Jesus prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39) Jesus demonstrated perfect submission—overcoming any personal feelings He may have had so that He could completely serve the will of God.

We should always follow Christ’s example and yield to the will of God. That’s because God’s grace saves us from the chaotic nature of our feelings. He cares for us even when we are careless with own lives. He watches over us, even when we take our eyes off of Him. He loves us even when we are unlovable.

I’m going to do my best to do His will—even when I don’t really “feel” like it!