For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 

(Ephesians 2:10 NIV)

We had planted the bulbs in the Fall.  We knew the variety of flowers we were putting into the earth, but not the colours.  When Spring arrived, I avidly watched that patch of earth, waiting to see if our planting would produce a harvest.  It took awhile but one day I discerned the barest hint of a green shoot poking toward the light.  Slowly other sprouts followed.  Nearly six weeks later our first bloom appeared.  We were thrilled to see that it was a multi-coloured flower.  As others burst forth, we could only delight in the surprise of the various colours that greeted us.

When our lives are first planted in the love of God’s salvation and grace, through our acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, we are a lot like those bulbs we planted.  We know that God has a plan for each of our lives: lives that will grow and blossom in Christ to do the good works that he has planned in advance for us to do.  We do not have any idea though, as to what these good works may be, where they will take us or what beautiful blossoms they may produce for the Kingdom.  The end of the beginning is therefore always a delightful surprise.

Often God calls us to do things we don’t always understand, just as he told a leper in 2 Kings 5 to go and wash in the Jordan river seven times and his flesh would be made clean.  Naaman, the leper did not understand why he was given this command and at first, he refused it. His servant persuaded him to reconsider, which he did.  His surprise healing was the result of his obedience.

I have come to the conclusion, as I read the Scriptures and look back upon my own life, that God is a God who loves to surprise us.  Just as parents love to surprise their children with good gifts that they were not expecting.  The question for us, as God’s children is: are we prepared to be obedient to what He calls us to do that we may embrace and delight in the surprise ending he has prepared for us?

Will we place all our anxieties and fears, our doubts and stubborn wills at our heavenly Father’s feet when he places his will before us?  Will we choose to stand upon faith and trust, that in Christ we can do all things which he calls us do? (See Philippians 4:13) When we so choose to do so, we are also placing ourselves in the wonderful realm of God’s will and the many beautiful surprises he will bring forth through our obedience.

Prayer: Lord help me today to do your will that I may delight in the wonderful surprises obedience ultimately brings.  In Christ’s name amen.

Lynne Phipps
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada