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That’s not how we usually choose to address someone. Putting ourselves under the will of another is risky. Who knows what they’ll ask of us? And now we’re committed!

We would be obligated to take that attitude in certain circumstances. It brings to mind old army shows like M*A*S*H where the soldiers are continually running up to their superiors and saying something like, “Sir, Private _________________, reporting for duty.”

Who said those words in the title of this article, “Here I am, I have come to do your will”? None other than . . . . Jesus in fulfilling a quote of Psalm 40:6-8. If anyone had the right to do whatever he chose, it would be the Son of God. In the mystery of the Trinity he willingly put himself under the will of the Father, and went through all kinds of lowliness as a result.

Becoming human was lowly. The place where Christ was born was lowly. His mission was lowly. But in following the will of God rather than normal human impulses we are saved and made holy for heaven.

Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” … 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (Hebrews 10:9-10).

The natural human will is not the best guide. We have come into the world, were given life, and brought to salvation by grace through faith. That same grace allows us to set aside our own will and pursue the Lord’s by the Holy Spirit’s work in us. We can safely put ourselves under God’s good and gracious will. No risk involved. Yes, sometimes Christian service is lowly and not recognized as greatness. God recognizes true Christian giving of ourselves as the greatest way to live and teaches us to value it as well.

In Christ’s forgiveness and power, and with his words before us, we say first not “I’m here to do what I want,” but “Lord, I’m here to do your will.”