In our gathering at church yesterday, I was privileged to
baptize 2 people. Those moments were ‘wonderfilled’ to me. Some may have just seen
2 guys dunked in a tank of water. I ‘saw’ a moment when heaven and earth
intersected, when we acted out the ‘burial’ of the ‘old’ and anticipated the
resurrection of the new, when what was perishing was divinely infused with
forever life! Can I explain it? No. It is just ‘wonder -full.”
On this
Monday morning, let me encourage you to remember
to ‘’wonder.” Let yourself be
surprised by something beautiful, feel a surge of admiration for someone or
something. Replace the sigh with a wow! In
the Psalms (the Bible’s song book) the word “wonder” appears often. Why? Because wonder leads to worship. "Glory in his holy name; let the hearts
of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his
face always. Remember the wonders he has
done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced, O descendants of
Israel his servant, O sons of Jacob, his chosen ones." (1 Chronicles
16:10-13, NIV)
Being a practical person, wonder is not often my first response
to life. I approach situations, people, and
experiences in a manner that is functional. But, I work on recovering my sense
of wonder. Even though I highly value things that get the job done, whatever
that may be, I know that there must be time to see the sunset, hug a child,
really listen to a song. My practicality is trait that helps me to plow through
a lot of work. However, I often miss the bigger picture of life and,
yes, I let duty overtake delight.
when I am too focused on 'work'
We all to hit the pause button so we can enjoy the pleasure
found 'in the moment.' God has
painted the world with beauty that exists for no other purpose than to provide
delight. How else can we explain the plumage
of peacock, the explosion of colors in a field of wild flowers? Worship and wonder are closely related.
There is a dryness in the practice of Christianity that
comes from reducing worship to
theological concepts and empty liturgy, hurrying through the forms without
allowing for the Spirit to touch us, trying to make the 'wonder-full' truths
that the Bible tells us in the stories of the works of God into neat packages
of doctrine. Too many Christians do not have much time for mystery these days. Their faith is all about pulling apart Scripture
texts, and finding proofs! I fear we are
in danger of killing the very thing we strive to admire. It is like trying to appreciate an exquisite
animal by dissecting it on an autopsy table!
If we ask only - “How does it work? What is the benefit to me?” we will
not experience the Spirit ‘that blows as He wills.’ Let us not reduce our discipleship to a
system of principles that help us find marginally better lives. There is awe;
there is mystery that God allows to exist around us which we can only appreciate
if we will allow ourselves to wonder.
Recover the wonder!
It will cause you to serve God with more passion, to love Him more deeply.
Here is a word from the Word. Lord, fill us with wonder. May our hearts become
quiet with awe as we ponder the measure of Your work.
" God,
investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. I’m an open book to you; even
from a distance, you know what I’m thinking. You know when I leave and when I
get back; I’m never out of your sight. You know everything I’m going to say
before I start the first sentence. I look behind me and you’re there, then up
ahead and you’re there, too— your reassuring presence, coming and going. This
is too much, too wonderful— I can’t take it all in! … Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then
out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you’re
breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what
a creation! " (Psalm 139:1-6, 13-14, The Message)
________________
He promised us that He
would be a Counselor
A Mighty God and a
Prince of Peace
He promised us that He
would be a Father
And He would love us
with a love
That would not cease
Well I tried Him and I
found His promises are true
He's ev'rything He said
that He would be
The finest words I know could
not begin to tell
Just what Jesus really
means to me
For He's more wonderful
than my mind can conceive
He's more wonderful than
my heart can believe
He goes beyond my
highest hopes
And fondest dreams
He's ev'rything that my
soul ever longed for
Ev'rything that He
promised and so much more
He's more than amazing
more than marvelous
More than miraculous
could ever be
He's more than wonderful
That's what Jesus is to
me
I stand amazed when I
think the King of glory
Would come to live
within the heart of man
I marvel just to know He
really loves me
When I think of who He
is and who I am
He's ev'rything that my
soul ever longed for
Ev'rything that He
promised and so much more
He's more than amazing
more than marvelous
More than miraculous
could ever be
He's more than wonderful
more than wonderful
That's what Jesus means
to me
Lanny Wolfe
© 1982 Lanny Wolfe Music
(Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
CCLI License # 810055
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