I’ve begun a new practice every time I have opportunity to preach. After the service is over I like to stand at the front to bid the congregation goodbye, then end with this: “Remember, God is crazy about you! If you don’t believe that today please come talk to me before you leave.”
I mean we’ve just spent an hour in His presence, listening to His heart as He has listened to ours. We’ve rejoiced to hear again of the price He paid so He could have the pleasure of our company forever. (They did hear that, right?) We’re energized just to be reminded…stunned to hear the story again. We marvel at a truth we cannot fully comprehend. Who of us hasn’t found ourselves asking, “Me, Lord? Do you mean it was for me? What did You find in me that was worth such an infinite ransom?
“You know my secrets. You know things about me no one else knows and You still like me? You would have done what You did had I been the only one who responded? The pain of living in a broken world…the sense of feeling separated from the Father…the beating…the nails…the thirst…the rejection… Who am I that a King should die for me? Even death on a cross?”
What if we’ve given them opportunity to bask in those thunderous truths, then not asked them to respond. In a fewmoments they will go out into a world of infinite distractions. The enemy will create a thousand off ramps from the sacred journey they have just been on. If they did not have opportunity to make a decision, much can be lost.
And there’s a bit of predictability when they hear, “God loves you.” They’ve doubtless heard it often before. But it’s just on the verge of breathtaking when they hear, “God is crazy about you!” Because it’s true you hope that thought will reverberate all the way out to their car, down the street and into the future. Hopefully it will give the Holy Spirit something more to work with all through the coming week. Ideally, they can’t shake it, and their response is ultimately, “Okay, God. If that’s the way you feel about me, I’m all Yours. I can’t run from that love any longer. I’m so glad to be home. You promised a party; I’m ready!”
By Don Jacobsen