God's Kingdom Belongs to KidsSample

Day Five: Wonder in God’s Kingdom

Children are born with a sense of wonder, wide-eyed to the world. Somewhere along the way, we forfeit that wonderful trait, and it gets replaced by self-will. Self-will is what happens when we have a preferred future in mind and our primary goal is willing it into existence. Sometimes that can be short term, “What will I have for dinner tonight?”; or, it can be long term, “Who will I marry?”

When our primary goal becomes willing our future into existence, we’re actually trying to snatch the author’s pen out of his hand: we’ve begun to write our own story. Now, the only problem is that the control is only happening in your mind. You don’t actually gain any more authority over your life. We simply exchange seeing the world through eyes of wonder for seeing the world through the eyes of self-will. That exchange wreaks havoc: it disfigures and distorts our spiritual lives.

Are you living as if Jesus ought to serve your dreams or are you living to serve him? Do you come to Jesus with empty hands for him to fill, or do you come with hands full of your own dreams, asking his blessing? The Creator, full of wisdom and majesty, has knit you together for his plans and purposes. It is ludicrous to try to reduce him down to a boost for our personal plans, but it’s such a common state of being.

When self-will is driving our lives, it usually looks a lot like we’re gaining control. But, then when life begins to slip through our fingers, that same self-will begins to look a lot like fear. What if I’m late? What if I never find a spouse? Wonder, in contrast to fear, is what happens when you give authorship back to God and welcome your own finiteness and smallness in the scope of the larger story.

What does your life tell you that you want? Look at your inner thoughts and triggers. If you want success, for example, you will notice signs of overwork everywhere. When Mary sat at Jesus’ feet in wonder of his person, life, and teaching, Jesus said, “Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Greatness in the kingdom of God is reserved for those daring enough to make wonder their ambition and their prayer. Ask for wonder, and God will give it to you. 

Reflection: Are you ready to begin to live in the childlike, mature pursuit of wonder? How can you focus all you are on Jesus, who loves you and gave his life for you?

Prayer: "God, give me a new sense of wonder in your presence. Knit me together in love with others to reach more of the wonder of you."