I gotta tell you, this past Sunday’s service was exactly what I needed. Usually these blogs consist of a summary of the message that was preached, but you should know that the sermons are only a portion of the service, and to get a whole feel for what Ada Pathway is like, you should really check out what’s going on from 10:30am - 12ish.

By about the third or fourth song during our worship time, people begin to sense that there’s something more going on than just a handful of people lifting their voices in praise. I start to notice that God is communing with us right there through the power of the Holy Spirit. The songs become less about lyrics and melodies, and more about hearts being poured out in prayer to Abba Father. “So what can I say?/what can I do?/ But offer this heart, oh God/ Completely to you.”

 The worship through singing, giving, and Scripture reading usually helps tune our hearts and minds to our heavenly Father in a powerful way. Pastor Don then preaches, and it’s exciting to see him preaching what God has placed on his heart. Currently we’re going through a 14-week series on grace, and you should know it is a very powerful subject. I wish I could describe it to you.

This last message was on our status before God, and how we have been justified because of grace. Pastor Don laid the foundation of what the word “justified” actually means. Many Christian circles (denominations aside) fall into the trap of short-changing grace. We like to emphasize that in our salvation we should bask in grace, because our salvation is a complete gift from God. Once the honeymoon is over however, our emphasis moves to sanctification by works, or “what are you doing for God?”

The reality of justification is this: the grace of God wipes clean your sins - past, present, and future. Not only that, it also ushers you into the full favor of God as your father. You do not have to work for God’s smile, you don’t have to keep looking over your shoulder to see if daddy is still smiling in approval.

I can’t begin to explain everything, but if you can come away with one thing, it should be what Pastor Don said to me after the service. ”The moment Jesus’ death on the cross becomes inadequate before God, is the moment God no longer approves of you.” It will never happen.

I needed this past Sunday.

We all did.

Will I see you there next week? I hope so.