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“Who among the gods is like you, LORD?  Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” - Exodus 15:11

Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God.  They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.” – Luke 5:26  

I’ve always been interested in the movements of Christian worship through the history of the church.  Why are certain songs and types of music suitable for certain times and seasons?  Why did that particular style come out of that era?  What were the people needing at that time?  What was breaking or stirring their hearts to find joy in that particular song or style?  

Every song comes out of a context, and that context is what shapes much of our minds and needs as worshippers—which means that many of the songs coming out in today’s day-and-age speak towards the current climate of faith.  

I’ve been noticing that there are a number of recent songs that have begun focusing on God’s activity.  We sing of God as a way-maker, God as a miracle-worker, God as a deliverer, God as ‘the wonder-working God’.  

Don’t get me wrong—there’s a lot of ‘Christian music’ out there that doesn’t say a whole lot.  But then there’s this other trend that is rejoicing for who God is and seeking His activity in the world.  

It’s almost as if these songs are reminding us that our God does things.  He’s moving.  He’s alive and active.  “Aslan is on the move,” as C.S. Lewis put it.  

What is our context today that we should be inclined to sing about these characteristics of God?  That we should be inclined to write music which reminds us that our God is ‘on the move’?   

I wonder (#PastorLiz) if we have lost a sense of wonder as Christians?   A wonder of our God?

When the Israelites came out of Egypt, the people erupted in song because of what they had just witnessed.  No other god was like this God.  They had never seen anything like it.  They had never heard of a god who did these things, who worked such wonders.   

When Jesus began his ministry among the Jewish people, the impact and response was the same.  “Who is this man?  We’ve never seen anything like this before.”  They were filled with awe because this ‘man’ didn’t fit into their regular categories.  

Have you ever noticed that one of God’s most regular activities is to break out of our categories?  (Perhaps we should sing about the box-breaking God.)  

In what ways have we snuffed out the truths of our God as a wonder-working God?  Do we still believe that He can do marvelous things?  Is He yet the same yesterday, today, and forever?  Or do we assume that He must be different now because we don’t see or experience enough of Him and have thus ceased to look for it?  

Last Sunday we talked about having a child-like wonder of the world, and I want to encourage you today to foster a child-like wonder of God.  In what ways have you made God, perhaps, too small?  Do you still believe that He can do remarkable things?  

I want to be clear: having these hopes and desires is not demanding anything from Him.  We know, and we trust, that “all things work together for good for those who love the Lord,” and that ‘good’ may not be the good that we’d hoped for.  Many of us have experienced disappointment with God, sometimes in heartbreaking ways.  

Our prayer, though, is not that Jesus must do such-and-such, but rather that we know He can.  And so we pray in hope while submitting all outcomes to Him who knows best.  

Where would you like to see God at work?  Where would you like to see a miracle?  In what ways do you hope to see Jesus on the move?   

Take a few moments now to offer that hope in prayer to Christ.  Submit your desires to him, because He cares so deeply for you and wants to hold these hopes with you.  And then finish with this prayer:  

Lord, I trust You for all things.
I trust You with all things.
I trust You in all things.
I trust You through all things.
I trust You above all things.
May I trust You today, with all that I’m holding and hoping for,
and, no matter what happens,
see You through the eyes of child-like wonder.
Amen.