…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. – Philippians 2:12b-14

God calls us to work out that which he is working in us. Sometimes this can be more difficult then what it sounds. So often I wish that I had the faith and obedience of Abraham or even Mary who obeyed God immediately without hesitation, without doubt. They simply said, “Ok, if that is what you want me to do, I am the Lord’s servant. Your will be done.” Then humbly they would bow before they walked away to carry out God’s commands.

To them belongs the blessings:

“Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!” – Luke 1:45

“I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws.” – Gen. 26:4-5

Without hesitation, without doubt, without knowing all the details of what God’s plan was and how He would go about accomplishing his promises to them – they believed and responded with their obedience.

Such a childlike faith they demonstrated! They wondered as a child wonders on how a parent might follow through on a promise but their wonder did not affect their faith.  Their wonder did not lead them to doubt or fear. Instead it led them to respond with surprise and amazement as they marveled that God would do such a thing in their very own lives. Their childlike wonder led them to a deeper communion with God as they experienced his power and attributes personally in their very own life.

A childlike wonder should be our first response when God calls us.  A humble wonder that the Living God of Creation would bow the heavens and stoop low next to us to hear our whispered prayers. A humble wonder that he would choose us, choose me, to work through to accomplish the purpose of his will, when I have no capability of my own and nothing to offer or draw him to me. A humble wonder that he would take hold of our hand in his, and begin to move it in rhythm tightly clasped within his own as he works in the world around us both molding and creating.

As a father, he fills our lives with wonder as he begins to introduce us to his world and reveals to us the marvels of eternity and teach us how his kingdom operates.  We can squeal with delight or with fear as he boggles our minds and senses.

Answering God’s call should always fill us with wonder- a humble wonder – instead of a fearful wonder that causes us to hesitate at the impossibilities, the obstacles and all the rules of this world that confront us. Did God really say that? Doubt whispers. Why would he choose you for such a task? You are incapable. Why would he ask you to do something you are incapable of doing? You must have understood him wrong. Couldn’t someone else do it better? Does he really need you to do it? Isn’t he capable of doing this alone? Our initially soaring wonder turns to stone and begins to quickly sink as we are distracted by what appears to be reality calling, bringing us back to the world we live in, with all its rules and principles drawing us down like gravity and enslaving us once again to its dominion and commands. It was silly and completely impossible. God doing something through me? What was I thinking?

As God is working within us, unsettling our hearts to move us to follow him to work in his kingdom, we should carefully examine our wonder.  Is it constructed of fear or of humility? If it is of fear, whose abilities are we depending on? Whose reputation is at stake? We may initially think that it is our own, worrying that we may fail at fulfilling his command, but is it not God’s?

Two calls. Two responses.

We can either reach up and in humble wonder grab our father’s hand and go to work beside him in his kingdom, yielding our small incapable hands in his, working with him to accomplish the impossible through us as he guides and uses our hands in his work.

Or we can respond in fearful wonder, grounded by gravity, submitting and yielding to the rules and principles of this world, working in our own self effort, limited by our own power.

Pray that God would give us the courage to choose Him by not focusing on own capabilities and limitations but on his ability and his absolute faithfulness.  Pray that we might answer him when he calls us by responding in unhesitating obedience as Abraham and Mary did.

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” – Luke 1:38

Father,

So often it feels like as little children, we are always in your way and constantly underfoot. Doing everything but what we are suppose to be doing. Thank you for your patience, long-suffering and your deep love for us. Thank you for taking us to work with you in your kingdom, allowing us to not only work beside you but to work with you as you hold our hands in your own patiently guiding them. Thank you that it is not about us at all. Not about our capabilities but your sovereignty and your grace. It’s all about you and what you have done. Thank you for allowing us the intimacy of sharing in your labor.

Amen.