Get Carried Away

At that he did get up, and immediately picked up his cot and walked out in front of them all, so that they were all simply carried away, and they glorified God, saying: “We have never saw the like of it.”  Mark 2:12  (Reference Bible)

Amazed, astonished, surprised and carried away, these are some of the words to describe how the people reacted to the work of Jesus.  Now His work is not completely finished.  There are parts that He has done and put behind like His crucifixion which He performed to the letter and will not have to repeat.  But the work He does in our lives and in our hearts goes on still.  What is our reaction to the wonders that He is performing today?

Perhaps it is high time we took a look around ourselves wherever we are, and try to examine the reaction we are having to what Jesus is up to.  Unfortunately in most cases it might be difficult to detect anything close to amazement, astonishment, awe and getting carried away.  Well, to be charitable, we might say that we get carried away with a lot of things.  But what about getting carried away with what the Lord is doing?

It is a deadly blow against any and all true Christian when we reach a point where we cannot lift up our hearts in wonder and astonishment when we consider our Lord.  Maybe we have over-familiarized ourselves with the stories or words until we have taken the weight of significance completely out of them.  The prayer which should constantly be upon our lips is that of renewing this significance each and every day.

Preachers, teachers and writers should pray that their instruction go beyond the physical, psychological and metaphoric and touch their audience with the personal realization of Jesus´ work inside of all.  We all must learn that we have nothing at all if we do not stand each one face to face with the Divine.  When we see how small and how insignificant we are in the presence of God, then we are able to sense awe, astonishment and surprise.  It is there when the mortal meets the Almighty, when one can get carried away with our reaction.

Dear Lord, we have come to You.  But we want to know what that means in the most real sense.  We are not satisfied with a brain-deep interpretation of what is going on between You and us.  We no longer want to sit passively by and not wonder after Your movements.  Please expose us now to the amazing realization of You working in and around us today.  Carry us away as it dawns upon us just how significant and awesome your movements are.  Let us be surprised when we see how little we really are and how mind-blowing Your love and Your power is.  Completely wash away any passiveness and replace it with a reaction worthy of ones who truly have been exposed to Your glory.

Amen