"As for the saints in the land, they are the glorious ones, in whom is all my delight." Psalm 16:3 (NIV)
Over the past month and a half I have been away from my office almost 14 days and I have been out of the King of Grace pulpit three Sundays. I am experiencing the "Rip Van Winkle" syndrome. Rip Van Winkle was away for 20 years (due to a very long nap) and returned home to find himself very confused and disconnected from the community and family once very familiar to him. I feel a bit like Rip some times after being away from home.
There is no better place to be in the whole world than around God’s precious people, particularly the ones you're called to as part of a local church family. They truly are the excellent ones. They are chosen ones so precious to God that he gave His Son for them. They are the regenerate ones, washed in the precious blood of Christ, counted righteous in the perfect God-man. They are the glorious ones who share in the Holy Spirit and eternal life. They are the ruling ones who will reign over all creation under Christ in the new heaven and earth. They are the lovely ones full of the love of Christ. They are my brothers and sisters and my friends. They are knit together with me by love into this local church body.
The rich and famous of this world have nothing on these folks. The leaders of the world don't compare to them. They are indeed God’s rich and famous. And to be around them is my amazing privilege.
