A really great sermon illustration

Something really good happened in church yesterday. We were attending  Christ Church in Cabot, Arkansas.  We always attend this church when we are here, and in fact go out of our way to do so, as it feels like home when we are here.

Pastor Jeff was preaching about God’s “Crazy Love” for us, in connection with a study of a book by that same title that this congregation is currently doing. At the end of the sermon he was driving home the point of what our response should be to this great love that God has for us.  This is not a concept that is easy to put into words.

At the end of the sermon the band came forward to take their places on the stage. When they were in place, the young son (about two years) of one of the musicians spotted his dad. The little boy cried out “Daddy! Daddy! Hi daddy!”  I am sure that everyone in the congregation (with the possible exception of his parents) felt the joy, and the revelation than this event provided us.  It wasn’t so much the words, as it was the feeling of love and pure joy that they conveyed.

This is indeed the appropriate response that we should be giving to our Heavenly “daddy” when we realize His great “Crazy Love” for us. The apostle Paul tells us:

“And because we* are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”* Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child.* And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.” Galatians 4:6-7 NLT

The Spirit of God spoke to us through that little child yesterday. His text may just as well have been:

“Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 18:2-3

Thanks for sharing this moment with me today.