Lost in Wonder: Five Day Bible Plan With Steve MorrisSample

Day One: Starting the Quest for Wonder

Reflect:

Since I was a young boy, I can remember being very open to the idea of wonder. I grew up in a grey and dull old suburb, and I always had the sense that life was happening elsewhere. On a washed-out day in the far west of London’s suburbs, wonder can seem like a pipe dream. But now I have decided to search for wonderment all over again. These days I am a Christian. In the reading today, we get the real sense that wonder is at the heart of the ministry and person of Jesus.

‘It is interesting that way back, before Jesus was born, there is an ancient prophecy in Isaiah that firmly pins wonderment and the Messiah together. The Messiah will be, we are told in Isaiah 9:6, the “Wonderful Counsellor”. It is a lovely image, but one we are in danger of misunderstanding if we only look at it through a contemporary lens.

‘The actual meaning of wonder here is really something like “incomprehensible”. Counsellor would have been understood as a profoundly wise king. Indeed, an incomprehensible counsellor seems like a figure ripe for humour. But in some ways, that’s it. Jesus didn’t make sense to people. People were confused by him. Wonder isn’t about common sense, either. Wonder isn’t about logic and straight lines – and that helps us to understand the very nonlinear Jesus, with his questions to answer questions and confusing parables.’ (Steve Morris, Lost in Wonder [Milton Keynes: Authentic Media, 2021] p.2–3). 

Prayer: 

Dear Father, help us to experience wonder all over again. In our moments of sadness and darkness help us to see that the world is amazing and so are you.