Objective Blessings

Objective blessings. That’s what we call the things in our lives — and in our church— that are clear, unmistakable indicators of God’s goodness. The qualifier “objective” matters, because many of God’s blessings are quieter and more easily missed. Trials rarely feel like grace in the moment. Small provisions often go unnoticed. Over time, and with perspective, we can see God’s hand at work in these things — and they truly are blessings—  but it’s less obvious in the thick of it.

Objective blessings are different because they’re hard to miss. These are the things that bring immediate joy to our hearts and smiles to our faces. We call them high-five moments. Since it’s basketball season, let me give this a shot …

There’s a difference between draining a three-pointer and boxing out for a rebound. Both are good and important, and they’re necessary for a team win, but the former is an obvious good everyone sees, while the latter is a good fewer eyes will catch. 

In the life of our church, a great deal of faithfulness falls into that boxing-out category. It includes non-negotiables like integrity, character, and prayer … and intentional conversations and quiet encouragement and cheerful generosity and humble service. First and foremost, God sees all of this and delights in it. And by God’s grace, your pastors see much of it too, and we are deeply grateful.

We understand that it would be a mistake to only celebrate three-pointers. 

But at the same time, it would also be a mistake to never celebrate them. Faithfulness that goes unseen matters, and visible fruit is still worth rejoicing over— happily and unabashedly.

So let’s call it what it is. Fifteen baptisms last Sunday was an absolute rainmaker! Twenty-three individuals joining our covenant membership this coming Sunday is hitting one from downtown! These are objective blessings from the God of all grace, and they’re worth some high-fives — maybe even a little hooping and hollering. Our kind of Calvinism can do fist-pumps. 

And we are. 

You should know that your pastors are genuinely overjoyed. We entered this year with a sense that we needed to reset our focus and double down on our mission, that we exist to make joyful disciples of Jesus who remember his realness in all of life. We are Jesus worshipers, joyful servants, generous disciplers, and welcoming witnesses. 

And we believe that God has blessed our church here. Objectively. By his grace, we baptized 37 people this year (the most ever in a single year, compared to nine last year)!  After this Sunday, we will have received 54 individuals into covenant membership (compared to 41 last year)!

Yes, we tread carefully here. We are not “all about numbers.” But we do celebrate three-pointers. So high-fives all around, church, for these objective blessings from God! To him be the glory, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end!