I do not turn aside from your rules,
for you have taught me.
How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Through your precepts I get understanding;
therefore I hate every false way.
(Psalm 119:102-104 ESV)
I did my first funeral last week for a friend’s father. Despite the weight of grief that surrounded that day, it was an amazing opportunity to preach and proclaim the Gospel to a room of people who were listening. That’s the thing about funerals, as opposed to a morning at church or an afternoon at a wedding– you have to listen. You’re compelled. On Sundays, there are a million distractions that can keep your mind floating around and away from focusing on what’s being taught and preached. At a wedding, there’s almost so much excitement (for the bride and groom, or for your own opportunity to be bride and groom) that focus becomes impossible. But not with a funeral. The pain of the moment and the tragic reality of death looms over everyone in that room and for those 15 minutes I got to share, people were actually waiting for an answer to their grief.