Action and Adventure!

At age seventy-five, Abraham seems to be as adventurous as a curious young adult would have been. He plunges himself into God’s future and becomes human material in God’s action.

Yes, I know that God called him; but I can only recall how perplexed I was when sensed that God was calling me to full-time ministry. It was no easy straight forward thing – changing plans related to my intended career in scientific research. I was already a family woman, which did not make it any more attractive. And although from childhood I liked outdoors, hiking, and exploring nature, I would not describe myself as being youthfully adventurous. No, I was a real scaredy cat!

Abraham is already pretty well settled, with an extended family and considerable possessions, and God tells him to get up and go. Go where? He does not know- only God does. Go where? only as God will show.

And he accepts the call to God’s adventure. That is what I should have seen my calling as at first. But on reflection, I cannot but admit that there seemed to be more questions than answers, more ifs (though not buts) than when, more fears entertained than promises owned, but none greater I would say than the fear of the Lord (Please don’t ask me to explain- It’s a mix of fear – dread and fear- excitement) that kept me obedient.

I am so glad that this fear prevailed, because it has been such an adventure! I would not, I could not have predicted such. I would not have wanted it any other way. Thank you, Lord.

Like Abraham, I’ve been thoroughly blessed. The messiah didn’t some from down my line, but he’s come to me. In him, Abraham’s descendant, I have been blessed and blessed others. I have had to build so many altars; God has been so good.

Come, thou fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing thy grace;
Streams of mercy never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious measure
Sung by flaming tongues above;
O the vast, the boundless treasure
Of my Lord’s unchanging love!

Here I find my greatest treasure;
‘Hither by thy help I’ve come,’
And I hope, by thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed his precious blood.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let that grace, Lord, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Take my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it from thy courts above!

Robert Robinson , 1735-1790.