I AM WILLING

 

As Lent began this year, as part of the red-letter challenge, I made a conscious decision to spend some time studying the Gospel of Mark. Of the four gospels it is probably the one in which I’ve spent the least amount of time.  Right away in chapter 1, two verses grabbed hold of my attention and filled me with deep thought. 

Shortly after Jesus began His ministry He was preaching in Galilee in the synagogues. Verses 40 and 41….“And a leper came to him, imploring him and kneeling said to him “If you are willing, you can make me clean.  Moved with compassion, He stretched out His hand and touched him and said to him “I AM WILLING.  Be clean”.

“I AM WILLING.” Christ said.  No hesitation; no pause or wait.  Immediate response … ‘I AM WILLING”.

I was struck by the affirming declaration of willingness with such instant action.  “I am willing.  Be clean”.  I thought about the word “will”.

'Will'
– from the Greek ‘theleo” - to intend, design, to purpose, be inclined.

Quite a few times I’ve gone to the Father in prayer with a request which often ended “if it be Thy will”.  Wondering if God would deign to be inclined. Sometimes quietly and somewhat disappointedly finding no such intention or inclination as I waited and life unfolded with a journey that was … darker or longer or more challenging.  This left me at times defeated or exasperated, maybe even hurt as I faced His will for me.  The King was not so inclined to grant the request of this lowly subject – not an easy answer to receive in the middle of pain.

That statement – God’s voice speaking those words “I AM WILLING” – echoed in my thoughts.  What was it about it that had grabbed hold of me?  I dug deeper into this word ‘will’ and found that here, as my Savior spoke “I AM WILLING’ the Greek word is ‘Etheleo’.  There is a subtilty added to the meaning with that letter “E”.

 ‘Etheleo’  - to desire, be disposed, purposefully,  mean,  love, please.  

Christ’s red-letter words were saying ‘I so DESIRE to heal you.’ ‘It is My PLEASURE to heal you’, ‘I would LOVE to’.   This is a personal relational response; a response from a loving Lord and Father to His child.

As I further consider ‘Etheleo’ my mind fills again with thought going back to some of the prayers I prayed most earnestly and there is actual comfort in reconsidering the answers.  The LORD works out everything to its proper end (Proverbs 16:4a).  I know His “Etheleo” is really “good, pleasing and perfect” (Romans 12:2).  And in His “Etheleo” He told us through the Apostle Paul “all things work together for good to those who love God” (Romans 8:28) - a statement He immediately follows and reinforces saying “neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ (Romans 8:38-39). I still find the fact that I had to accept an answer that was so difficult to receive and journey through.  Sometimes I look back and realize great blessings came through that answer that I would have never ever had otherwise – or I realize even greater hardship would have been endured if my supplication was granted in that moment. 

“I AM WILLING.”  The words now fill not only my thoughts but my heart. 

‘Etheleo’ – HE is willing to hear my prayer every time I approach.

“Etheleo’ – HE DESIRES, MEANS and LOVES to answer – I am grateful that answers come every time through a good, pleasing and perfect ‘etheleo’ that is always lovingly given and held to personally benefit HIS KID.

 My prayer for you:     

Father, I thank you for your ‘eheleo’ – that good, pleasing and perfect will you have for your children.  I pray that as a child of yours comes before you with earnest request – no matter the answer they hear, they are sustained by your Spirit as Your words “I AM WILLING” come to mind – not in questioning but in assurance.  Let their hearts hear “I AM WILLING” to give you what is better, “I AM WILLING” to desire what is good for you though you may not know just now, “I AM WILLING”  because “I LOVE YOU MY CHILD”.  Amen.