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The Gospel Sneaks Up on Me

Lightstock.com
Lightstock.com

Over the last 20 years, we have been blessed with six children in our home. As a result of the spread in their ages, I have been getting scared by our kids since the late 90’s. I have been startled so many times that I’ve lost count. Have you ever noticed that kids ages 4-17 love to scare you? Whether standing behind a door in your room, in your coat closet, or behind the curtain at the top of a staircase, they will scare you. It comes with the territory. I get it. And I like it. Kind of.

I’ve noticed a parallel to what my kids do and what the gospel does. When I’m comfortable and least expecting it, out of nowhere, it jumps out and gets me. God seems to love surprising me with the gospel. And, I am so thankful it happens.

When doing personal Bible devotions, this gospel will sneak up on me and like a playful child hiding behind a door, jump out and surprise me. It happened this morning in Psalm 116, “I love the LORD because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy.” He has heard me! He has! At the pit of despair with my voice hoarse from crying out, he heard me! And not only did he hear me, but he also healed me. Oh, this gospel is glorious.

It happens when studying for a sermon. Recently, I was plugging along in Genesis 22 and found myself arrested by the drama of God providing a ram for the offering. The vivid imagery, dramatic escalation, apparent hopelessness, and then perfect provision. The gospel of God’s marvelous grace will sneak up on you and startle you. It’ll raise your spiritual heartbeat and make you feel the text as well as know it.

It happens when I’m preaching. More times than I can ever count the gospel breaks me down and puts me back together while I’m preaching a sermon. It’s like I’m walking into a new room in the gospel mansion while providing a personal tour of it! “Oh, I’ve never noticed this before! It is so good!” I’ve often mused, “I can’t believe I get to preach this gospel!” It is true, as many have previously observed, “Some may preach the gospel better, but none can preach a better gospel.”

There are countless other instances I could cite. Even this past Lord’s Day the gospel come home with vivid clarity in the hymns we were singing. Later on, in a conversation with my sweet little 7-year-old daughter, she spoke in her way about Jesus loving her and dying for her sins. I talked with multiple people at our Sunday gathering who reminded me of a particular aspect of the gospel that they were clinging to. It just sneaks up and gets you.

Friends, I want to encourage you to revel in the gospel. I am not holding myself as anything special. I am pointing to the specialness of the gospel. It is matchless. It sneaks up and gets you in the most gloriously precious way. Pray that you, your friends, your church, and your family, would never get over the gospel. May the ink always be wet, and may its beauty always arrest your soul.

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