You Are A Wonder

When we hear or read the testimonies of those the Lord delivered from sin, we are in wonder that they are still sane and alive. They are so completely different from how they they lived that we wonder if we are talking about the same person.

The writer of Psalms 71:7 says, "I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge." (KJV). The word wonder in the original means, "sign, portent, wonder". Likewise Psalms 40:3 says, "And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD." (KJV).

Beloved, we are a walking illustration of God's mercy to change us from the inside out that causes people to look at us with wonder. Never should it be the past sins and failures of one's testimony that makes us wonder rather it's the depth and riches of God's grace.

We are not only a wonder to those around us but to spiritual powers. Paul says, "For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings." (I Corinthians 4:9, NIV). The word spectacle in Greek is the word for theater. Think of Job's life who was a spectacle. His life was an unfolding drama not just to his friends but the Devil who tested his integrity to see if he would curse God.

Beloved, we do a great disservice to the name of the Lord that out of a fear of rejection we mimic the world's attitudes and thinking. We should never allow the world's culture to shape our life so that we are seen as less dissimilar. It's because we are different the world is attracted to us. They long to see people at peace not falling to pieces. People who can still smile when suffering rather than grow bitter and cold.

We must remember our lives are a wonder not just to our neighbors, family and friends but to spiritual powers. The apostle Peter says in I Peter 1:12 that angels long to look into this gospel of salvation. It's a mystery to why the God of the universe died out of love for His fallen creation. And the Devil is full of rage that Christ lives in us knowing his time is short (Revelation 12:12).

So be encouraged beloved that even on our worse days we are a wonder to more than what we see in the natural. Angels and Devils are watching a fleck of dust, our lives, become transformed by the power of Christ to be like Him.