Wonder and Awe – Week Two

Wonder – a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable

Awe – a feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder

Recently, I have been asking God to return my awe and wonder.

Sometimes God becomes too familiar. Not because He has lessened, but because I think of Him less. I make God into Someone ordinary. I fit Him into my mold. I lose the reality of who He is.

I love how Romans 11 describes God, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” (Romans 11:33 NASB) No matter how much time I spend in God’s presence, I can never uncover all of who He is. No matter how much I study and learn, I can never come close to knowing everything there is to know about God.

When I struggle to worship, when I am un-amazed by God, this points straight to my heart. But what do we do when we recognize a heart problem? How do we recover the awe and wonder of Jesus? How do we regain a heart of worship?

God has been reminding me to go back.

Go back to the truth. Go back to the gospel. Go back to the beauty of the transformation He has worked in my heart.

Then, act on what I uncover.

And worship.

But how does one worship?

In Luke’s gospel, he records an encounter of a group of shepherds had with Jesus. On what was a predictable and ordinary night, everything changed.

While the shepherds were laying out in a field with their sheep, an angel appeared. Naturally, they were afraid, but the angel encouraged them with a message of hope. A Savior had been born. This small group received the good news all people everywhere needed, and this very night they could find their Savior in a manger.

After this proclamation, the messenger angel was joined with what the Bible describes as a great multitude of angels. Together the angels raised their voices and praised God.

Most of us know worship is more than just singing. Worship flows from a heart recognition of who God is. Think about these shepherds. They were full of wonder and awe. What did they do? First, they immediately obeyed God’s instructions. Without delay, they went to the presence of Jesus. Then, they began to talk about it. They recounted how they saw God’s work and how His word was fulfilled.

Because of the proclamation of the angel, the shepherds found Jesus. Because of the declaration of the shepherds, many people wondered at the message they heard. Genuine awe and wonder overflow to the lives of people around us. When we encounter God, other people will see God too. Worship begins in our heart and then overflows to obedience and sharing of God’s goodness.

Right in the middle of the story of the shepherds, Luke includes a glimpse into another worshiper – Jesus’ mother, Mary. He tells us that “Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19) Mary did not miss what God was doing. She may not have understood or comprehended everything, but she allowed the miracle of Jesus to enter her heart.

Consider these various responses to experiencing the wonder of the gospel – songs of worship, obedience to God’s instruction, consideration of how God is working, sharing the goodness of God, and heart transformation.

How are you worshiping today?

In this season of Christmas, I encourage you to re-engage your heart with the awe and wonder of Jesus. Look for how God is working, spend time in His presence, proclaim His goodness, and treasure His work in your heart.