“This is the God of the gospel of grace.  A God who, out of love for us, sent the only Son He ever had wrapped in our skin. He learned how to walk, stumbled and fell, cried for His milk, sweated blood in the night, was lashed with a whip and showered with spit, was fixed to a cross, and died whispering forgiveness on us all.”
― Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel

God is so good. We sang that refrain several times on Wednesday at our first chapel of the school year. It is true. Sometimes we forget or minimize it. Other times we treat that truth like it is Christmas—something that is meant for children but it has worn a little thin for us older folks.

Yet, the truth remains, “God is so good, He is so good to me.” It is easy to reduce Christianity to a philosophy or a way of life. You know what I am talking about. I know many people who believe these words as gospel truth: “Be good and go to heaven.”

The problem with that is two-fold. I am not good. I want to be, but I am not. (Just ask my wife—I bet she is not convinced that I even want to be good.) I don’t need someone to testify to that truth because I know it in my heart, and in my mind and in my soul. That’s the first part.

The second problem is this, even if I could be good I would miss out on the most important thing: Jesus.

Life isn’t about being good. (Life isn’t about being bad either, just in case you needed further clarification.) Life is about getting close enough to Jesus so you can know (and feel) how much He loves you. It will change you. It will leave you wanting more and more and even more. That is all I want in my heart of hearts… more of Jesus’ love.

I don’t want to be more religious. I just want more of Jesus in my life because it is in knowing Him (not knowing ABOUT Him) that I can rest in his grace. When I daydream, I think about sitting at Jesus’ feet and asking Him questions. The same daydream never gets old. I feel like I could sit there forever and one day I probably will.

I want that for you too. I am not even sure who reads these words anymore, but I want you to know that all I want for you is more of Jesus’ love. It is better than anything else I have ever experienced. Even better than Barbeque.

However, there is one word of warning. Once you have experienced the love of Jesus nothing else will satisfy.

Let me end the same way I began… with a quote from Brennan Manning.

“Rome is burning, Jesus says. Drop your fiddle, change your life and come to Me. Let go of the good days that never were – a regimented church you never attended, traditional virtues you never practiced, legalistic obedience you never honored, and a sterile orthodoxy you never accepted. The old era is done. The decisive inbreak of God has happened.”
― Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel

 From the bottom of my heart, may Jesus bless you with His presence,

Pr. Ben