“I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace… This grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ…” Eph. 3:7-8
Heavenly Father, as I begin today in Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland, I bless you for those you place in our lives as fountains of grace, revealers of Jesus, heralds of the Gospel. Nothing is more essential, glorious, and life-giving. We’re pausing today to say thank you, Abba.
Thank you for the cloud of witnesses in the Scriptures and those you’ve written into our stories—mercy-oasis’s in our wilderness, rescuers as we’ve wandered, and wingless angels who flew into our lives at just the right time.
Who are they? Here are a few: Parents and Sunday School teachers, Young Life leaders and campus ministry directors, various pastors and a wide range of teachers. Neighbors and strangers, tenacious roommates and sorority sisters. Our first disciplers, spiritual directors, and Gospel-posse. Authors we’ll only meet in heaven, and songwriters who connect our head with our heart.
Grandmothers who prayed and wept for us, and grandchildren who reveal your grace and kindness to us. Old worn-out cassette tapes, sun-faded book covers, and internet-streamed goodness. Missionaries who showed up and friends who will not give up. Abba, thank you, 10,000 times over.
From eternity to Genesis to Revelation—from our first Day in the new heaven and new earth, for the next 10 millenniums, and forever and ever, only you are worthy of our worship and adoration, and of everything we have and are. Thank you for seeking and saving us. Thank you for delighting in us and preparing eternity for us. So Very Amen.
