The Gospel is for Sinners

Dearest Friends,

I've reached the two week mark for move-in. This is exciting. Many of you have similar amounts of time remaining. I really simply cannot wait to be reunited with you.

This week, and today especially, I've seen the power of the Gospel in the brokenness of people's lives. Today I had coffee with John Knorr, who was the campus minister at the University of Tulsa until about a year ago. He has been one of the most influential people in my life, and this was the first time I had spent with him since some rather heartbreaking events unfolded at the beginning of this year. John has been affected by his sin in a way I haven't seen firsthand in many people. His sin has, unfortunately, had incredible power to affect others as well. But the GOSPEL is TRUE for HIM. If I don't believe this, then I don't believe the Gospel. And in His brokenness, I have been shown the power of the Cross to redeem and to bring to repentance those who have been called to Christ, and those who have been absolutely lost to their sin. The Gospel is BEAUTIFUL, and the Gospel is for sinners. John Knorr is a sinner. But I am the chief of sinners. Praise God that the Gospel is true for us.

Christine is a friend I've written to you about before. She's a 30yr old mother of 4 who works as one of my managers at ChickfilA. She is one of the reasons I have felt that my calling to Tulsa has not been in vain this summer. She is affected by sin. Divorced, an absolute workaholic, and a fairly absent mother from her children, she is affected by her sin. She has been affected by the sin of her parents, and her childrens lives are being affected by her sin as well. And while I don't think she is aware of it yet, she is DESPERATE for the love of Christ---absolutely longing to have a lover who is faithful, and who seeks to KNOW her and BE KNOWN by her. Tonight she and her kids came over to my house. I invited them so her kids could ride our horses and hang out and just be away from normality. The Gospel's promises are TRUE for them. The Gospel can save Christine from her love affair with her job, and from her love affair with the world and the lie that a man will bring her happiness. Christine's life has been affected by her sin, but the Gospel is for sinners. Christine is a sinner. I am a sinner. The Gospel is true for us, and the ONLY thing that can save us.

The Gospel is true for my students at the church. The Gospel is true for the crazy people I work with. The Gospel is true for my sister. The Gospel is true for you, my dearest friends. The Gospel is not for the righteous. The righteous don't need it. The Gospel is for sinners, of whom I am the chief.

When the Pharrisees saw Jesus eating the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples why he would do such a thing. Jesus overheard and replied, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

We're together soon. Let's make the Gospel true in our lives. Let's love every sinner we see.

Katie