Do I have it in me to Revere God?

I know that I ought to be posting pictures right now from Brynn's Birthday and our trip to the zoo but I've had something percolating in my brain that have to get out before I lose it.

In the study my small group is going through, Praying the Names of God, we are studying the name Adonai right now, which refers to God as our Lord and Master, as our Sovereign. One of the instructions for prayer time says, "Praise God because his greatness cmopels our service."

This really stumped me. I tried to think of a similar situation where I felt compelled, by someone's greatness, to enter into someone's service. Maybe I might be compelled by money, or perhaps compelled by force, but by greatness? I can't think of a single person on this earth that prompts a feeling of reverence in my heart:

-Most world leaders have long since lost my respect.

-I've been taught since birth that my parents are the source of most of my "baggage".

-My Greek dictionary includes in the definition "respect" (as in what my attitude should be towards my husband) the word "revere". But every TV show and movie I've watched since childhood have told me that men are selfish, bumbling, emotionally bankrupt creatures. Even though I've managed to become convinced that that is not true, it's quite a leap having come from that perspective all the way to reverence.

And to be a servant, to be at someone's beck and call, unquestioningly obeying them... in some cultures, that's simply a description of a good majority of the population's situation in life, their way of life, maybe in some cases forced, but not dishonorable unless someone of a greater station is suddenly forced to take on these tasks. But in America, to live this way is simply considered abhorrent, not to be tolerated. To be a bondservant or a slave is a shameful and a violation of human rights.

And those who rise to greatness, politically anyway, are compelled to make a show of how they are a man of the people, that they can serve pancakes and pass out water at a hurricane disaster center.

I heard Ravi Zacharias say that reverence is a character trait that is a strength of the Indian culture. In fact, from infancy, the father is not called simply "Daddy", but "Daddy sir" and mother's addressed in the same manner. I would argue that American culture works hard to program the exact opposite attitude from birth.

To come to my point, Jesus said to his disciples in John 15 "14You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you."

Notice first that the "friend" still is described as obedient. Also notice that "friend" is a status that came to follow after three full years of being "servant". We so freely sing the song "I am a friend of God", but can we even claim a week's worth of being his servant, calling our life not our own and following all his promptings and known commands?

It was interesting that all that I had been meditating upon on this subject became relevant when talking to a friend about child-rearing and they were asking me my take on the "Love and Logic" techniques. I have not read the book, so I can't claim to have full knowledge. I am sure that there is alot of good material in the book. But i'm always on the lookout for where worldly philosophy creeps in. "Beware the yeast (the teachings) of the Pharisees" Jesus warned his disciples. Just a little bit of yeast works through the whole dough over time. And I have looked at this in the light, if you take on little bit of heresy, and hide it like a needle in a haystack among a pile of truth and do that over and over, book after book, movie after movie, article after article, newscast after newscast, it works it's way into the realm of unquestioned truth.

I kind of laughed at the example of giving a child the choice "do you want to leave in 10 minutes or 15 minutes?" The reason I laughed is because I have four children. So what do I do, take a vote and toss a coin if a tie-breaker is needed? I noticed in the Dugger home (the parents with 17, or is it 18 now, children) that choice is not something they get alot of. For instance, an edict was finally made that all boys wear black socks and all the girls white and all the same brand so that laundry sorting didn't become a complete nightmare.

It is true that with stronger-willed children, that giving choices does help. But I simply have scenarios constantly where I cannot give a choice and I don't have time to give a reason and where the child simply doesn't have the capability to understand the reason. So there are times where Nick and I actually will ask our children to do something completely illogical to test them to see if they will do it. And I tell them that if they don't learn to obey illogical commands, they will not be fit servants for God. For just think of all the crazy things God's servants have been asked to do:

-"Don't eat from that tree that has fruit that appears just as harmless as any other in the garden"
-"Leave your family and home and go live in tents for awhile"
-"Smear lamb's blood on your doorpost"
-"Pick up that snake by its tail"
-"Walk around that city for 7 days and then shout REAL loud!"
-"Wash 7 times in the river and you'll be cured"
-"Pick up your mat and walk, lame man."

Heavenly Father, I just don't have it in me. The world has programmed me for irreverence, disrespect and to question all authority. Thank you that your Son, who obeyed perfectly, dwells in my through your Holy Spirit. Wash my sinful mind clean. Give the attitude that was in Christ Jesus who counted himself nothing and was obedient unto death. Lord, your Spirit in me is my only hope. Grant me a heart of reverence, obedience and a vision of a God worth following... grant me a vision of you that makes it unthinkable not to say no to everything else. By the blood of your Son, as request this in the name of Jesus, my only hope. Amen.