Day of Praise

Th, Dec 6 "Day of Praise"

"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." - Romans 1:16

So, the gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.

What might that look like in everyday, earthly terms?

Here's an image.

A little boy comes up to me at church last night.

He's a hugger.

He's just eaten.

Something orange.

Like Cheetos.

I don't know, but he's definitely just eaten something orange because it's all over his right hand.

I totally love him.

And his hugs.

But I'm wearing black. Ya know, preacher-clothes black with the little white thingie on my collar.

It's before worship, so I don't want orange on my black. Kinda like the priest in the Bible story of the Good Samaritan. Ya know, the priest probably didn't spread the love to the guy who needed it because the priest didn't want to mess up his preacher clothes.

Anyway. I know this little boy is a hugger. Just like me 99% of the time. But just not right before worship when it's gonna get a big right hand of orange on my black pants.

So I smile and tell him. "I love your hugs, but not till you wash."

He looks at me. Kinda puzzled. Then thinkin. Looks at his hand. Looks back at me.

He says matter-of-factly, "I can hug you with one hand."

My heart melts.

So we hug.

With two hands.

If you don't believe me...

I have the orange on my black to show it.
The wonderful consequence of persistent love.

A love that's always lookin' for ways to bless.

Even when we're lookin' for ways to keep it at arms' length.

Or further.

But God keeps comin'.

One handed hugs.

Two handed.

You name it.

The Advent, the Coming of our God.

In power.

And childlike love.

God come to us in Jesus Christ, a babe in a manger. Or with an orange hand on our black pants.

Either way God sees fit. Whatever way God sees fit. Because by God's grace, I am not ashamed. "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes" - Romans 1:16

Praise God!

Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson