December 30, 2013

Click play to view video.

Click here to print out study this week 

or continue reading below. 

Read Luke 2:8-15.
"Let us go over to Bethlehem ..." (verse 15). I was completely struck by that phrase. After the magnificent appearing and message from the angels, the shepherds wasted no time. They didn't question what they saw. They didn't run away, hide, or become paralyzed with fear. They simply said, "Let's go." Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us. Luke 2:15
The shepherds were eager. They had a willingness and zeal to see, know, and understand the truth of Jesus and His birth.

• Do you have an eagerness to know and understand the truths about God and His work in His Kingdom, in your life, and in the lives of those you love?

That's part of being "wonder-filled." It's having a keen desire to see, know, and understand the ways and truths of God. That means that when something new or unexpected happens in life, instead of running away, hiding, or becoming paralyzed with fear, our response is instead, "Let us go and see this thing ...." That's how we can become "wonder-filled" and stay "wonder-filled." We can look at things with eyes of hope, not fear or dread. We can rest in God's unfailing love, and we can rejoice because we trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
There's something else in verse 15 that caused me to stop and consider its meaning and implication. "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, whichthe Lord has made known to us. 
They got it! First of all, this revelation came from the Lord. The Lord (kyrios), the supreme God of the Universe, the One in complete authority, made this news known to them. They knew this revelation was important because it came from God. They knew this revelation could be trustedbecause it came from God. And they knew they mustrespond to this revelation because it came from God.

• What about you? When you receive a Word from the Lord, do you deem it as important?
• Do you trust it because of its origin?
• Do you rightly respond to it?

This verse is "filled" with a wonderful surprise (just like those pastries I mentioned earlier!). There is a magnificent truth here.
That truth is this: When we receive a revelation from God (good or bad), our response should be, "Let us go and see." We should eagerly "go forward" with joy and anticipation, expecting the Lord (kyrios) to work in and through it for His glory.

• What has been made known to you recently?
• Does it fill you with fear or dread?
• What was your response?
• Can you turn your response from fear and dread to awe and wonder?
• Can you say, "Let us go ..."?
• Can you eagerly go to God anticipating His glory in your situation?
• Can you be "wonder-filled" in the midst of the bad as well as the good?

Read Luke 2:15-18.
Verse 17 says, "They (the shepherds) made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child." That means they testified to what had been revealed to them. And what was the result? Verse 18 says, "And all who heard it wondered ...." Those who heard what the shepherds said marveled at the revelation. They were "wonder-filled" because of the shepherds' revelation about Jesus.
How remarkable! These verses are filled with a wonderful surprise as well.
The truth here is that when we testify about the revelations we have been given, our testimony creates wonder in the lives of others. Those around us begin to marvel at God, and this brings Him great glory.

Read Luke 2:19-21.
Mary, Jesus' precious mother, treasured and pondered all she saw and heard. The word for pondered in verse 19 means to come together, to consider, or to discuss. I wonder if the shepherds gave Mary further understanding of what had transpired. She was so very young. Perhaps their testimony gave her further knowledge of what the Lord had done and would do in the life of her son, Jesus.
Those shepherds were certainly used of God. They were filled with wonder, and they helped others capture the wonder as well.

• Can that be said of you?
• Do you cause others to treasure and ponder the things of God?
• Are you so "wonder-filled" that others can't help but capture the wonder just from being around you?
• Do you know someone who needs to know about Christ so they can begin their journey to becoming "wonder-filled?"

I pray you ponder these thoughts in your heart this week as we approach a new year.  We don't know what the year will be filled with. It could be bursting with wonderful surprises or packed with shocking uncertainties. But we can be filled with wonder through it all because Jesus can and will fulfill everything.
My precious friend Donna blessed me with a gift this year. It's a wall hanger that says this: 

When nothing is certain, everything is possible.

That fills me with wonder because it fills me with hope ... hope for the future and hope for a lifetime! Even in the uncertainties of life, we can marvel and say, "Let us go ...." 
Won't you go forward with God this year, filled with awe and wonder? Let us go together!
Wishing you a blessed and happy new year filled with wonder!

Jacqueline is the Director of Women's Ministry, 

Prayer & Resource Specialist at Warren Baptist Church. 

Visit her blog for more encouragement.