Astonishing!
“For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:7-8
Jaw-dropping. Extremely surprising. Overwhelmingly impressive.
What do you find astonishing?
I like watching magicians. There is something about the way a good magician works that is very entertaining to me. I know there’s always a trick somewhere, and sometimes I’ve googled for the explanation, but knowing how a trick is done usually leaves me feeling disappointed. I prefer to savor the experience of being astonished.
The story of God’s love expressed in the Bible is astonishing from beginning to end. Creation is astonishingly spectacular and beautiful. The fall of human beings into sin was astonishingly tragic. The pain and destruction that still spread throughout the earth are astonishing. But Jesus is the most astonishing of all.
A baby, who is both God and man. A servant, who demonstrates God’s glory. A saviour, who redeems the world through his own suffering and death.
Everything about the message of Jesus is astonishing! And as we hear this message retold, during these seasons of the church year, our jaws should drop. Our hearts should break, and our lives will be transformed, for in Jesus the life we are all looking for is poured out in free abundance.
I believe people crave the experience of being astonished.
As a church, we are stewards of the most astonishing true message, the message of God’s spectacular love expressed through Jesus. So may we work together to avoid letting it seem commonplace. May we shake off the feelings of familiarity and celebrate the unexpected! May we savor the experience of being astonished. And may astonishment be our witness!
Pastor Curtis
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