Weddings and the Gospel

Shannon and I were blessed at the wedding we were at last night. After the wedding, at the reception, we received many positive and surprised comments on my officiating and on the couple getting married. This kind of surprise is common. It's the gospel. In the unguarded environment of a joyful Christian wedding, I think, some people hear it for the first time. There is nothing like it. The Gospel - the good news of Jesus Christ - when properly heard - is more than just heard: it's experienced. The couple and large portions of their families (I'll leave all nameless for privacy's sake) were powerful examples of people living in the blessings of God because they trust Christ alone for life, life abundant, and life eternal. It was truly a Christian wedding, and not just in name only. (Think about what I'm saying here and you'll get what I mean.) My experience of being a pastor includes hundreds of such days over the past ten years. Watching people's eyes soften and light up after hearing about God-sized hope that is suddenly put within their reach is inspiring. I write this to remind myself. There are lots of things pastors can and do complain about. God's faithfulness to His Word is not one of them.