Things have certainly been a buzz around here with the planning of the Evensong Service at the church, expecting a large amount of people to come from the church and community to celebrate in a special way. Practices have been many, rehearsal to come, each person doing their part to make this thing happen for the first time in this church's (FBC Gray Gables) history. It's exciting. It's fresh. It's new. It's all about Jesus.
But, in staff meeting today Pastor Andrew read a prayer out of a famous Puritan book called "The Valley of Vision". In the prayer came a sentence that really touched me about God's infinite greatness.
"No human mind could ever conceive or invent the gospel"
Just think about that. Sometimes it's easy to just think about Christ or God as some other person up there just like us working along while we live down here. And while it's true that Christ does understand us, feel our joys and pains, we can't truly comprehend Him nor this incredible plan called THE GOSPEL a.k.a The Goodnews!!
It is the angels who told the shepherds that it was good news of great joy. Why is it such goodnews? Because there's no possible way I could ever have imagined what God did. It's such good news because I couldn't do it, wouldn't be able to figure out how to save myself from the sin that I'm so easily entangled in. God knew that "living the Christian life was impossible" (Louis Giglio). But what Christ could do allows me to walk in faith with him living it out in me.
Could you invent that? Could I? That God would send His Son (also God) to take upon the sin of the world on his shoulders and march to Calvary with every ounce of strength. To bring prodigals in becoming His children!
So even though there's a big Christmas event that will be unique in its own way here, that phrase just made me want to pause and really understand what's happening. That we're worshipping a God who did something we could never think of doing, or invent. That before and after all the crazyness, it's so important to really cherish what it is we have in life: grace. So much that it is humbling.
So stop and say thank you to your Father. He is so good! And before the moments get busy this Christmas, even the services any church can create isn't anything compared to what God created: The Gospel (Good News of Great joy!) And that, beloved, makes me want to have joy each day.
