Friends, be in church this Sunday.
I have never asked you to be in church services. I am this week.
This Sunday will be unlike any other Sunday.
Hundreds have read Bryan’s blog and are otherwise familiar with Blair and Joe’s upcoming surgery. If you haven’t, you can read it here.
At one level, Joe is giving part of his liver to Blair. It is a surgical procedure that will cost Joe weeks (maybe months) of discomfort and recovery, while giving Blair relief from his years of suffering. Considered from this level, Joe is a modern-day hero. He is sacrificing for his friend.
But at a deeper level, this moment offers us insight. It is a lens. We look through it to see nothing less than the very character and glory of God.
Jesus said, “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love … This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:8-9; 12-13
This coming Sunday, October 14th, at the 10:15am service we will gather around Blair and Joe to pray for them. There will be no sermon. Instead, we will hear from these men. I’ve asked them to come prepared to share their journey with us. We will be looking at this object lesson with our eyes dialed in to see God’s character revealed. After praying for them we will gather around the Lord’s Table to remember the moment when Jesus gave His life for you and me, his friends.
By all means plan to be in church this Sunday.
Come prepared to pray for Blair and Joe.
Come eager to see God’s glory.
Come ready to be challenged by God’s grace.
