Exulting in Monotony

In reading Ephesians chapter 1, I was struck this time by the style of Paul, the author, who writes with such passion and excitement that he often goes off on tangents while proving his points. In the midst of making a point to the people of Ephesus, he starts trailing off, exulting in what the Lord has done through Jesus Christ who has risen from the dead and is now exalted above all. A friend of mine once called this kind of rambling "praise vomit."

In reading this and trying to get a feel for Paul's heart (which is not too difficult, given his writings), I am struck by how excited he gets every single time he begins to talk about the Gospel and our salvation. It doesn't matter how many times he mentions the same thing over and over again. Usually, when we hear or talk about something again and again, it leads to the invention of phrases like ad nauseum. But the Gospel, it doesn't get old to Paul. It doesn't get boring. Because this salvation we have received is the greatest thing that has ever happened in the history of the universe! And blessed are we among all creation, for the Lord has seen us in our helpless state and called us to life, to redemption, to be His own forever and ever! And the love and the grace which He lavishes upon us is beyond our comprehension, but we who have experienced this salvation and have been sealed with the Holy Spirit can do nothing but praise and exult in it, because there is nothing greater that has ever happened to us, or to all the world.

When we are filled with this life and joy, we are free to exult in this beautiful monotony of the Gospel. In his book Orthodoxy, G.K. Chesterton (whom I've been quoting a lot recently, but never enough) says:

"A child kicks its legs rhythmically through excess, not absence, of life. Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, "Do it again"; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough... It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again," to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again," to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike: it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we."

This may be what it means to have a child-like faith. To be filled with such life that the gift we have been given in Jesus Christ never gets old. We continually are amazed and excited about the power of the Gospel, so that once we are done hearing of it, we eagerly shout "Tell me again!"

Be awakened to and rejoice in the salvation you have received in Christ. Exult in the greatness of the story in which you are a main participant. Praise the God who has redeemed us and is making all things new. Refuse the temptation to get tired of hearing about the Gospel and its power in your life and in the life of those around you. Share it with others. Rejoice! I say it again, rejoice! For God has been merciful to you.