Wonder

The Merriam Webster dictionary says:

1 a : a cause of astonishment or admiration
b : miracle
2 : the quality of exciting amazed admiration
3 a : rapt attention or astonishment at something awesomely mysterious or new to one’s experience
b : a feeling of doubt or uncertainty

It is kind of neat to watch people at a fireworks display. Listen to and watch their reactions as fantastic displays of power and color fill the sky. You hear things like wow, awesome, oooo, aawww, … and many other words of admiration and joy. The patrons eyes being large with expectation as the next mortars lift off to the sky with a shwoosh. Then boom and the sparkly colors spider leg out across the sky.

Let’s look at the definitions above and how they might apply to our walk with Christ.

1 a : a cause of astonishment or admiration

The gift of salvation should always astonish us because…

“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Romans‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

While still sinners and being an offense to God, He looked down and said I want to have fellowship with them. Son go and die so that they can be made right with me. Wow!!! That is awesome and wonderful love.

b : miracle

Christ came into this world in a miraculous way, walked the earth and was tempted as we are but never sinned, performed miracles, was crucified and rose again.

“This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew‬ ‭1:18‬ ‭NLT

“So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.” Hebrews‬ ‭4:14-15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.” John‬ ‭21:25‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside. When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body. Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.”” Mark‬ ‭16:1-7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Christ was miraculous in all that he did and the gift of salvation is also a miraculous work in that it hides our sins in his blood and God therefore sees us as righteous.

2 : the quality of exciting amazed admiration

The knowledge that Chiat died for my sins gives me the deepest admiration for him. Also, the thought of one day meeting him and bowing down humbly at his feet giving him the praise and glory he is due, fills me with excitement…even so come quickly Lord Jesus.

3 a : rapt attention or astonishment at something awesomely mysterious or new to one’s experience

The joy of salvation and the feeling of being clean can sometimes fade away over time. We must remind ourselves by going back mentally to that moment. Satan would like those memories to be hidden and buried under the mountains of other memories. Our joy is based in and on him who is able to save. The Psalmist says it right…

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.” Psalms‬ ‭51:12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This is not a bad thing to say in a heart felt way every day as part of a prayer. If we want that joy to endure we need God’s help to keep it fresh and He is more than able to assist us.

b : a feeling of doubt or uncertainty

This is the wonder of all wonders. God allows us to daily walk and be bombarded by temptation. If we resist the temptation and stand strong for Him he is glorified. It is up to us as we have free will to choose between Him and the temptation. Doubt and uncertainty creep into our minds when we choose poorly, but He is faithful and convicts us and draws us back through repentance. Now I, like Paul, am not saying that we can willy-nilly go around sinning and expect to be forgiven; what I am saying is He knows we are not perfect and if we fall He will help us back up.

“Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?” Romans‬ ‭6:1-2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.” 1 John‬ ‭2:1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Wow! An old hymn comes to my mind, it begins like this…

A wonderful savior is Jesus my Lord, a wonderful savior to me, …

The wonder of it all…God’s love for us, Christ’s death for us, and our blessed hope of Christ’s return. Thank you God for this wonderful life and plan.

Be blessed.

ATFH