Watching Fireworks

The little boy stared in awe at the colorful firework show in the sky. His eyes were glued to the bright sparkles, glimmering above him.

A couple nights ago, we went to a minor league baseball game. The actual game was pretty dull, but it was a fun social experience. I got to walk around, people-watch, and hang out with friends and family.

Even though the game wasn’t very entertaining, the little boy in front of us was. He was really well-behaved, considering he was about three years old. He sat in his seat with his cute little hat and entertained himself with games on his grandma’s phone. But when the fireworks started, his eyes became glued to the sky.

Kids just love fireworks. They love the noise and the color and the sparkle. It draws them in. They can stare at fireworks in amazement.

If only we could be in such awe of our Savior. Then we would be on the right track.

But God’s miracles to us become ordinary. We credit a terrific new painkiller med or a learned physician’s handiwork for His healing of our bodies. We don’t see miracles as miracles anymore.

God’s fireworks in our lives have lost their sparkle…their glow…their radiance.

We walk past His intervention in our everyday lives. We give credit to people when all credit truly belongs to God.

Why?

Because all we can see is the people working. We can’t see God physically moving and working and intervening.

You can see people carry out a duty and have success, but God alone grants them success.

We need to be in awe of the One directing our world.

He directs THE WORLD. Not a town or a state or even a country.

THE WORLD.

Our minds should be blown. We should be in awe. We should be drawn in to His majesty and power.

And yet our eyes glaze over His incredible power.

The Israelites didn’t glaze over it (all the time).

Check this out:

Then Moses and Aaron went and assembled all the elders of the sons of Israel; and Aaron spoke all the words which the Lord had spoken to Moses. He then performed the signs in the sight of the people. So the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord was concerned about the sons of Israel and that He had seen their affliction, they bowed low and worshiped. (Exodus 4:29-31 NASB)

Yes, Aaron performed the signs for the people. But God worked through him and gave him the ability to do it, and the Israelites worshipped God.

Yes, the doctor performs the successful surgery; but God gives him the ability.

Yes, the artist paints the beautiful portrait; but God gives her the ability.

Yes, the speaker gives the entertaining speech; but God gives him the ability.

When we hear a pretty voice or see a wonderful play or read an interesting book, we automatically give credit to the singer or the actors or the writer. But shouldn’t all glory be given to God?

We overlook over His gifts and miracles and work in our lives. Our awe has disappeared.

Let’s find it.

Let’s not only find our awe but our gratitude—because we usually don’t even pay attention to the great things God does for us.

When we have food to eat for three meals every day, we don’t give that fact a second thought. But the hungry children in Kenya wouldn’t be able to stop thinking about it.

When we feel the air conditioning every summer night in our cozy beds, we don’t thank God for it. But the families who sleep in ninety-degree weather thank God that the temperature dropped ten degrees since the sun set.

This isn’t a guilt trip for you. In fact, I need to take my own advice here (and on every post). I’m just trying to explain that we take God’s gifts for granted. We expect to have food for every meal and a roof over our heads every day and a cushy bed to sleep in every night.

There are so many things that we overlook that we would be so miserable without.

Just as children (and some adults) are fixed on fireworks, so we should be fixed on God’s greatness and provision. As kids wait eagerly in expectation and look up joyfully at the sky, so we should wait eagerly in expectation and look to Him with joy and gratitude.

It’s time to bow our hearts down low and worship the Lord.  Even a short prayer like, “Thank You, God, for this meal” is important. Every simple “thank You” brings glory to God. Every “thank You” acknowledges that He is God and we are not. Every “thank You” pleases Him.

He is working. He is enabling. He is providing.

Satan would love for us to overlook everything God does in our lives, but we cannot glaze over the fact that God is working. Let’s watch in awe and praise Him.