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 Thoughts on a Monday  

Coffee. I, like most Americans, have a long and colorful history with coffee. My granny would make us coffee-milk when I was a child. The first time I ever met the lady who is now my wife was on a trip to Starbucks. She then took a job at the campus coffee shop, and I would visit her there every day. When I worked EMS, our shift revolved around coffee. I remember getting scolded for trying to simply wash the coffee pot at the ambulance station one day. Some of the older guys got mad and said that I was ruining the flavor by trying to wash the pot! Now, I make a fresh pot every Sunday morning for the visitors at church.  

I love coffee. Every time someone fixes me a coffee, they always ask me how I take it. My answer is always the same: “In a cup.” I have learned, over the years, that by not mixing all the fancy syrups, creams, and sugars, one can truly taste the roast. I love it. I love the simplicity. All you have to do is apply heat to water, pour it over this magical bean, and viola you have one of the most popular drinks in the world!  

Some of the best things in life are the simplest things. Vanilla ice cream. Coca-Cola Classic. Plain white bread. The list goes on and on. We live in a world that is so full of choices and custom options, that sometimes I think we forget to enjoy the simple things.  

Our faith in Jesus Christ is best enjoyed in it’s simplest form. Ever since the day of Pentecost, the church has been trying to dress it up and make it 'more appealing' to those in the world. The thing is, it was already appealing! Jesus doesn’t need any window-dressing or secret ingredients. HE IS THE SERCRET INGREDIENT!  

One of the best descriptions of Jesus and His gospel can be found in Hebrews 12:2, “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  

Beautiful. That verse, in it’s simplicity, has all you would ever need to know about the gospel: Jesus. Faith. Salvation. Glory. I think that we sometimes try and make things too difficult or add our own little secret ingredients, when in reality the gospel message is perfect the way it is. Jesus doesn’t need us to make Him look good. He has already done all the work! What type of cream or sugar could we possibly add to make something that is already the best even better?  

Jesus made the lame walk. He made the blind see. He calmed the storm. Brought the dead back to life. He is the Alpha and the Omega. The Lion of Judah. The King of Kings. The Lord of Lords. The Bright and Morning Star! Most importantly, 2 Corinthians 5:21 says that “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”  

Don’t you see? In it’s simplicity, the gospel message of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the best thing that there is. People want to taste it. They want the salvation and hope that it has to offer! So get out there and show them how great your Jesus is!  

Have a great week!  

-Jason