Wonder & Amazement

This time of year is full of wonder and amazement. We are in awe of the lights, the huge displays, the smiles on children’s faces. As I grew, I wondered about the magic of Santa …

• How does Santa get all around the world in one night?
• What does he do if there is no chimney? I have a gas supplied fireplace with no chute. Does he come in through the gas line?
• Do reindeer need fairy or pixie dust to fly? Does Rudolph’s nose ever stop?
• Why doesn’t the grinch wear pants?

These were just some of the questions my mind wondered about. As I look at the Bible, I see even then, 2000 years ago, there was a lot of questions …

• How could Elizabeth, being so old, have a kid? And how could Mary have a kid, having never (you know)?
• And did Simeon wonder how much longer before he saw the messiah?
• Did worshippers wonder about Anna’s excited praise about a redeemer?
• What went through the shepherds’ minds when they first saw the Angel?
• And what did Joseph’s parents think about the new daughter-in-law?

Lots to wonder about. But in reality, most of us don’t think about these things. We have pressing issues to wonder about …

• Will I get the right presents for the kids? Will I get what I want, or need? How are we going to afford all this?
• Should I travel to see the kids? Should we do Christmas virtual?
• What if I get covid? Or worse, what if my elderly mother gets it?
• What are the real benefits or side effects of the vaccine?
• What if I lose my job?
• Will 2021 be worse than 2020?

Life is full of wonder, lots of questions, and some of them don’t lead our mind down a healthy path. Over a thousand years before the first Christmas, there was a poet, a warrior, a young shepherd (or maybe he was an old king by then) that had these type of questions too. But he also had an even stronger confidence in the one who was stronger than anything this world could throw at him. His confidence was in a God who loved him, protected him, and guided him.

In the 27th Psalm, he shares these questions and shares the answer. And he also shares his response …

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
When evildoers assail me
to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
it is they who stumble and fall.
Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
yet I will be confident.
One thing have I asked of the LORD,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to inquire in his temple.
For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will lift me high upon a rock.
And now my head shall be lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the LORD

Our light … giving guidance and wisdom. I will follow his path.

Our salvation … physical and spiritual deliverance and protection. I will trust his power.

Our passion … to seek His presence, to dwell there and be in awe and wonder of his glory, radiance, and beauty.

Our praise … I will worship him with shouts of joy.

This season, don’t miss the joy, don’t miss the presence. He is Immanuel, God with us!

Joy to the world, the Lord has came. And that is the answer to all our questions! He is Lord.