“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, today we bless you for the servants of your Word and the Gospel you’ve placed in our lives over the years—including this season. Nothing is more glorious, necessary, and life-giving than the truth, goodness, and beauty of Jesus… revealed by the Spirit to us in the Bible… gifted to us through your appointed means. 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—grace-fountains in our wilderness, rescuers as we’ve wandered, those who continue to call us to Gospel-sanity, freedom, and beauty—from heaven and earth.
Parents and Sunday School teachers, Young Life leaders and campus ministry directors, pastors and teachers… Neighbors and strangers, angelic visitations and tenacious roommates, disciplers and Gospel-mentors… Authors we’ll only meet in heaven, and songwriters who connect our heads and hearts…
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 now, internet-streamed goodness… Missionaries who showed up and friends who will not give up… Thank you heavenly Father. Thank you Lord Jesus. Thank you Holy Spirit.
From eternity to Genesis to Revelation—from our first Day in the new heaven and new earth, for the next 10 millenniums, and forever… gracious Triune God, you alone are worthy of our worship—of everything we have and are. Thank you for seeking and saving us. Thank you for those you have sent and continue to use. So Very Amen.