At the Vineyard we have begun our series "By Every Word" while at the same time embarking on a 40 day reading of the New Testament. Yesterdays reading was Luke 4:14-9:50 and the word astonished showed up three times! We had first seen it when Jesus was found teaching in the temple as a boy - his parents were astonished by what he said. Now in our reading it says they were ALL astonished. Although some other translations use the word amazed I have found that he word astonished has captured my attention.
I cannot remember the last time I was astonished. I could make the excuse that I haven't seen the miracles that were happening in these chapters of Luke but then there are daily miracles in my life when I understand that "from Him, and through Him and to Him is everything." But there is more - they were astonished at His teaching. I have His teaching in front of me every day - speaking to me with His authority,,,, but I am not astonished by it.
So, today I am reflecting on my great lack of astonishment in the face of such good gifts as His constant care and work in my life and His Word. Perhaps it is as we considered last Sunday - I have just forgotten how much I need it - I have been too filled up with other things and it has dulled my appetite for His word and clouded my eyes to His work. Or perhaps I don't let the Word penetrate deep enough and don't readily give thanks for His work...
So Lord, today, "open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your word."ps. 119
Astonishment happens when reality greatly exceeds our expectations, which most often conforms to what we routinely experience. I suspose it's just like an accident where everyone who was involved has a disparate account because no one is really paying close enough attention- perhaps the key to being astonished is to notice, to truly stare and become absorbed with the detail of what we are experiencing with the full spectrum of implications. Kind of like Sherlock in the Hulu/TV series "Elementary."
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