Worship is the one thing called for this Sunday morn. After sending the oldest off to prom and waiting for her return. After late night calls that fire is taking what so many have worked hard to build. When a night makes you weary from little sleep and your nerves are somewhat shot...what you need is worship.
Worship is full today. Not because the number of people but full of the holy whispers a weary one needs. A young man I have had grown to love is baptised. At the end a call is given and three come to join our church.
My youngest, he leans over and asks, "How much does it cost to come to this church?"
I want to laugh out loud but he is serious and so I give him the answer, "Worship is free, Jesus already paid the cost."
I can't stop thinking about it. It still brings a grin to my face. Where did my son get this idea that coming to church costs us something? How did he come to think that his father and I paid a price so he could participate in worship? A monthly fee for the privilege to gather with the body of Christ has left me wondering...could it really be free?
In a class long ago we were challenged to choose five beliefs our faith stands on...the five rocks that build the foundation of our beliefs. This was not easy...five is a small number. In the end I boiled it down to three...
We love Him because He first loved us.
Jesus paid the price for me.
Love God...love others.
The order is important, not random in anyway. He loves us...no strings attached. He paid the price...a free gift to us. Because of this...love for Him and those around us grows...it can't be helped.
My sons eyes grew wide when I said, "it is free" as if this couldn't really be. The best thing in life...it is free...it has a name...Jesus.
