Sweeter Than the Day Before

July 13. I've written about it here and here and here.

I'm hard-pressed this year to find a fresh way to talk about it. Yet, I'm unwilling to let it go by unheralded.

I think, this year, perhaps more than ever, I am aware of just how much life in Christ is the extravagant grace of God poured out on me. See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (I John 3:1)

My life is not at all about me. It really is ultimately God's story. His grace. His willingness to pour out Christs' blood, to accept that sacrifice in place of the insurmountable debt of my sin. It's about His faithful covenant-keeping despite all of my weaknesses and failures. It's about His ability to make beauty from ashes, to use what would otherwise be useless for the sake of declaring His glory. He alone is worthy, and He alone gets all the praise for any good in me. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. (Ephesians 1:7-10)

I no longer feel like a child. I no longer feel ashamed of how old I am or how long we've walked together. I only look toward the days ahead and pray that with each passing year, you would see less and less of me and more and more of Him. ... the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. (Colossians 1:26-28)