Nagoya

I woke up early Sunday morning and jumped on a Shinkansen and made my way down to Nagoya. I was meeting up with Alyssa, my traveling partner for the week. We decided to go to church together in Nagoya to start off our trip. Man, such a good idea. We went to a bilingual church called Mustard Seed Christian Church in Nagoya with some of her friends. It has been a long time since I've heard live contemporary worship songs. We didn't sing in all English or in all Japanese. They mixed up the chorus and the verses with English and Japanese. It was amazing. To be able to worship God in two languages at once.

The church service was held in a dance studio. As we sang "God of This City" I looked out the giant windows onto the busy street outside and watched as people walked by the windows clutching their umbrellas trying to stay dry. My heart hurt for Japan.

You're the God of this city

You're the King of these people

You're the Lord of the nation

You are

You're the Light in the darkness

You're the Hope to the hopeless

You're the Peace to the restless

You are

There is no one like our God

There is no one like our God

Greater things have yet to come

Greater things are still to be done in this city

Greater things have yet to come

Greater things are still to be done here

The pastor preached on Luke 7:36-50. A sinful woman forgiven. The alabaster jar. She took a risk and Jesus accepted her. The woman knew she needed what Jesus had to offer. If you look at Luke 7:48, it reads, "And he said to her, 'Your sins are forgiven.'" The pastor made an interesting point. That phrase, "Your sins are forgiven," is the best news in the world...but only if YOU know you are a sinner. It's nice to know Jesus offers forgiveness, but it's unbelievable news when you understand how bad your own sinfulness is.

It was a short sermon (shorter than what I'm used to), but it was powerful. Just straight up face kicked me. Because it's...old news. Jesus saved me from my sins. Because I have let my soul become numb to the disgusting-ness of my sin, this isn't the best news in the world anymore. But when I wake up in the morning and preach the Gospel to myself before I get out of bed, those 4 words, "Your sins are forgiven," is power. When I sit and take the time to understand the depravity of my sin and how much it hurts God and how much of His wrath I deserve, those 4 words are the best news in the world. That Jesus would take me as I am--messed up, confused, broken, lonely. That He would take me and forgive me.

Amazing love