Today’s reading: Matthew 6:10, Psalm 73
As you wish – a formal expression of agreement to something, especially with the connotation that one does not really agree (Wiktionary).
Do you remember the movie The Princess Bride (1987)? If you do, I suspect you thought of it when you read the title of my post today. This fairy tale adventure is about a beautiful young woman (Buttercup) and a farm boy (Westley). Throughout the story, Westley responds to Buttercup’s every command with the words “as you wish”. Over and over again, his completely submissive approach led him to endure many ridiculous challenges until he was finally able to save Buttercup, his one true love, from an evil kingdom.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbX1U1tx9aw
This is really a pretty dumb movie, but I love it nonetheless. (I know some of you do too!) Does today’s passage in Matthew 6:10 feel a little bit like the phrase “as you wish”? Like we are resigning ourselves to fate, or perhaps just formally agreeing to something that isn’t really what we want? This couldn’t be farther from the truth.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).
In this verse, Jesus suggested that we pray for God’s perfect purpose to be accomplished. As our creator, God knows what is best for us and has a plan for our lives. He designed everything to work together for good and to bring glory to him. Is there ever a situation where you wouldn’t agree with that? God’s plans do not promise happiness, but they do promise hope and purpose. When left to my own devices, I could never come up with a plan that is better than the omniscient, perfect creator of the universe. I pray his will be done.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).