Rediscovering Wonder in Our Spiritual Lives

Devotional

Day 1: Rediscovering the Awe of God's Creation

In our daily lives, it's easy to become desensitized to the beauty around us, much like those who live near Lake Superior might overlook its grandeur. This can happen in our spiritual lives as well, where the extraordinary becomes ordinary. Psalm 8:3-4 reminds us of the majesty of God's creation and His care for us, which should inspire a sense of wonder and gratitude. We must actively seek to maintain our awe of God's creation and His work in our lives, recognizing that He cares for us deeply. [02:16]

Psalm 104:24-25 (ESV): "O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great."

Reflection: What is one aspect of God's creation that you have taken for granted? How can you intentionally appreciate it today?

Day 2: Guarding Against Spiritual Familiarity

The people of Nazareth missed the extraordinary in Jesus because they were too familiar with Him. This serves as a warning to us not to let our familiarity with the sacred lead to spiritual boredom or contempt. We must remain open to the awe-inspiring work of God in our midst, ensuring that our faith does not become routine. Familiarity can breed contempt, leading to a lack of faith that even amazed Jesus. [09:20]

Hebrews 3:12-13 (ESV): "Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called 'today,' that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."

Reflection: Is there a part of your spiritual life that has become routine? How can you invite God to renew your sense of wonder in that area today?

Day 3: Embracing the Sacredness of Worship

Our Sunday gatherings are not ordinary; they are sacred moments where the Holy Spirit works in powerful ways. We must approach worship with intentionality and expectation, recognizing that God is at work transforming lives and calling us to deeper faith. Worship is not just a routine but a profound encounter with the divine. [10:25]

1 Chronicles 16:29 (ESV): "Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him! Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness."

Reflection: How can you prepare your heart and mind to experience the sacredness of worship this week?

Day 4: The Transformative Power of Redemption

Reflecting on our need for a Savior and the gift of redemption through Jesus should fill us with gratitude and awe. This awareness keeps us humble and prevents self-righteousness, reminding us of the depth of God's love and grace. Redemption is not just a theological concept but a transformative reality that should inspire wonder in our hearts. [18:22]

Titus 3:4-7 (ESV): "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

Reflection: In what ways has the redemption through Jesus transformed your life? How can you express your gratitude for this gift today?

Day 5: Inspiring Others Through a Life of Wonder

When we lose our wonder, we fail to inspire others. Our lives should reflect the hope and excitement of our faith, drawing others to the light of Christ. By maintaining our sense of wonder, we can effectively share the gospel and inspire those around us. Our faith is not just for ourselves but a beacon to those who are searching for hope. [16:13]

1 Peter 3:15 (ESV): "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect."

Reflection: Who in your life needs to see the wonder of Christ through you? How can you intentionally share your faith with them this week?

Sermon Summary

In reflecting on the beauty of Lake Superior, I am reminded of how easy it is to lose our sense of wonder, not just in nature, but in our spiritual lives as well. Just as the lake can become a mundane backdrop to those who live near it, our relationship with God can become routine if we are not intentional about maintaining our awe and reverence. Psalm 8:3-4 reminds us of the majesty of God's creation and His care for us, which should inspire a sense of wonder and gratitude. Yet, like the people of Nazareth in Mark 6, we can become so familiar with the sacred that we lose sight of its significance.

Jesus, despite performing miracles and teaching with wisdom, was met with skepticism and offense in His hometown. This passage warns us of the danger of allowing familiarity to breed contempt, leading to a lack of faith that even amazed Jesus. We must guard against this spiritual dullness by intentionally cultivating a sense of wonder in our worship and daily lives. Our faith and praise are offerings to God, and without a true revelation of His love and sacrifice, our worship can become a mere routine.

To rekindle our wonder, we must focus on the extraordinary aspects of our faith: the redemption offered through Jesus, the new life symbolized in baptism, and the profound meaning of the Lord's Table. These are not mere rituals but sacred moments that connect us to the divine. As we gather as a community, let us be intentional in our worship, allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us and through us. May we never lose sight of the wonder of God's love and grace, and may our lives reflect His glory to inspire others.

Key Takeaways

1. inspiring work of God in our midst. [09:20]
3. The Sacredness of Worship: Our Sunday gatherings are not ordinary; they are sacred moments where the Holy Spirit works in powerful ways. We must approach worship with intentionality and expectation, recognizing that God is at work transforming lives and calling us to deeper faith.

4. The Wonder of Redemption: Reflecting on our need for a Savior and the gift of redemption through Jesus should fill us with gratitude and awe. This awareness keeps us humble and prevents self-righteousness, reminding us of the depth of God's love and grace.

5. Inspiring Others Through Our Faith: When we lose our wonder, we fail to inspire others. Our lives should reflect the hope and excitement of our faith, drawing others to the light of Christ. By maintaining our sense of wonder, we can effectively share the gospel and inspire those around us.

** [09:20]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:12] - The Beauty of Lake Superior
[01:27] - Losing Wonder in Familiarity
[02:16] - Spiritual Journey and Wonder
[03:23] - Psalm 8: Awe of Creation
[04:37] - Offering Faith and Praise
[05:45] - The Purpose of Worship
[06:20] - Mark 6: Jesus in Nazareth
[08:02] - Amazed by Lack of Faith
[09:20] - The Danger of Familiarity
[10:25] - The Sacredness of Sunday Worship
[12:10] - Spiritual Dullness and Gratitude
[14:15] - Offense Replacing Awe
[16:32] - Steps to Restore Wonder
[18:22] - The Wonder of Redemption
[20:28] - The Significance of Baptism
[21:46] - The Wonder of the Cross

Sermon Clips

In reflecting on the beauty of Lake Superior, I am reminded of how easy it is to lose our sense of wonder, not just in nature, but in our spiritual lives as well. Just as the lake can become a mundane backdrop to those who live near it, our relationship with God can become routine if we are not intentional about maintaining our awe and reverence. [00:02:10]

Psalm 8:3-4 reminds us of the majesty of God's creation and His care for us, which should inspire a sense of wonder and gratitude. Yet, like the people of Nazareth in Mark 6, we can become so familiar with the sacred that we lose sight of its significance. [00:02:16]

Jesus, despite performing miracles and teaching with wisdom, was met with skepticism and offense in His hometown. This passage warns us of the danger of allowing familiarity to breed contempt, leading to a lack of faith that even amazed Jesus. [00:09:20]

We must guard against this spiritual dullness by intentionally cultivating a sense of wonder in our worship and daily lives. Our faith and praise are offerings to God, and without a true revelation of His love and sacrifice, our worship can become a mere routine. [00:10:25]

To rekindle our wonder, we must focus on the extraordinary aspects of our faith: the redemption offered through Jesus, the new life symbolized in baptism, and the profound meaning of the Lord's Table. These are not mere rituals but sacred moments that connect us to the divine. [00:18:22]

As we gather as a community, let us be intentional in our worship, allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us and through us. May we never lose sight of the wonder of God's love and grace, and may our lives reflect His glory to inspire others. [00:16:13]

When we lose our wonder, we fail to inspire others. Our lives should reflect the hope and excitement of our faith, drawing others to the light of Christ. By maintaining our sense of wonder, we can effectively share the gospel and inspire those around us. [00:16:13]

The people of Nazareth missed the extraordinary in Jesus because they were too familiar with Him. This serves as a warning to us not to let our familiarity with the sacred lead to spiritual boredom or contempt. We must remain open to the awe-inspiring work of God in our midst. [00:09:20]

Our Sunday gatherings are not ordinary; they are sacred moments where the Holy Spirit works in powerful ways. We must approach worship with intentionality and expectation, recognizing that God is at work transforming lives and calling us to deeper faith. [00:10:25]

Reflecting on our need for a Savior and the gift of redemption through Jesus should fill us with gratitude and awe. This awareness keeps us humble and prevents self-righteousness, reminding us of the depth of God's love and grace. [00:18:22]

When we lose our wonder, we fail to inspire others. Our lives should reflect the hope and excitement of our faith, drawing others to the light of Christ. By maintaining our sense of wonder, we can effectively share the gospel and inspire those around us. [00:16:13]

May we never lose sight of the wonder of God's love and grace, and may our lives reflect His glory to inspire others. [00:16:13]

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