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My One Suit and One Gospel

Lightstock
Lightstock

I have one suit. And I’ve worn it for every event that required a suit over the last ten years. The other day as I was preparing for a wedding and picking out a shirt and tie, I began recounting some memories in the suit. There have been so many weddings with their tears of joy. And there have been funerals with their tears of grief.

I remember one week in particular when I was conducting grief counseling for a funeral and marriage counseling for a wedding. Then the funeral and wedding came, within a day of each other. I wore this suit for both events.

When I look back to that weekend I remember something else that was the same between the services: I preached the same gospel. And the people were comforted by, encouraged with, and properly exhorted in this same gospel.

I looked into the eyes of a grieving widow and reminded her of her hope. I told her that while her beloved husband of several decades was now gone that her beloved Savior would not leave her alone. He is with her. I reminded her of the promises of God’s Word and how her husband was now in the presence of a great multitude before the risen King of heaven. I reminded her that because of the work of Christ, she could lay her head down upon the pillow of God’s promises, trusting that he was faithful to do all that he has said.

I also looked into the eyes of the bride and groom and reminded them of their hope. I reminded them of their duties as a husband and wife in light of Christ’s relationship to the church (Eph. 5). I showed them how the gospel is the model and motivation for all that we do (Phil. 2:3-5). I helped them to see the necessity of trusting and treasuring Jesus for all that he is and has done for them.

Likewise, in both settings, I was blessed with the opportunity to address those gathered in or worship hall. In two meetings, separated by a couple of days and a reason for their respective tears, they were united in their need to hear the gospel of Christ. And I was able, on both occasions, to plead with those present to consider their own souls before God and to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.

Have you considered the beautiful versatility of the gospel? It fits every occasion and meets every need. The doing and dying of Jesus for us is what we need to hear. This gospel is so gloriously appropriate. It is the calibration for all of life. It instructs marriages and wipes away the widow’s tears. It humbles the proud and strengthens the weak. And in every situation it asserts itself as the beautiful sufficient, ultimate priority of all of life. The gospel is gloriously versatile.

I have one suit and one gospel. At some point I’m going to need a new suit. Styles change, and so do waistlines. On the other hand, I will never need a new gospel. It stands ready. It is ever relevant and always the most important topic for our consideration—in any setting.

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