He Will if You Will

Elizabeth Elliott on will of God and will of man, Part 1

Title: He Will if You Will

All through the Bible we see the interworking of
the will of God and the will of man. It was God,
Creator and Sovereign, who conceived freedom for
man--the glorious likeness to Himself in "the
dignity of causality," to use Pascal's phrase.
All things are so arranged in God's universe that
He may work his will through man's exercising his
gift of a free will. It is a gift, and one which,
while it confers staggering power on us humans,
also limits the Almighty. Here lies the
tremendous mystery--that God should be
all-powerful, yet refuse to coerce. He summons us
to cooperation. We are honored in being given the
opportunity to participate in his good deeds.
Remember how He asked for help in performing his
miracles: Fill the waterpots, stretch out your
hand, distribute the loaves.

This little word of Paul's to the Corinthian
Christians contains the whole kernel of that
truth: "He will deliver us if you will cooperate
by praying" (2 Cor 1:11).

Is there something you are hoping for today?
Perhaps there is a condition you must fulfill
before the Lord can grant it. He will if you
will.