The front pew in a Church is a special place for sure. It's the front row to the Biggest Stage in this world and the seats in the first row don't cost a dime, but they do "cost" something. When you look across the front pews of Christian Churches, you'll see a very diverse crowd. On any given Sunday, you'll see senior citizens, young Couples with very young Children, international Families, and folks of every race and walk of life. You might see an eager Family with a baby clad in beautiful white attire looking forward to their trip to the Holy Water font for a Baptism. Or, it could be someone much older in beautiful white attire about to plunge backwards in that same font. You might see someone at Church for the first time ever (or in a long time) with eyes wide open with the Spiritual curiosity of a newborn being "born-again". Regardless of who you see in the front row, all have paid a price beyond money to sit in those first pews. Time, tribulation, surrender, loss, gain, charity, endurance, patience, perseverance, hope, love, Faith, etc. are just a few of the prices that have been paid by these and others to be able to sit in this row. And, it didn't come cheap. Like when Jesus Christ went to the Cross for all of us, it was by His stripes that we were Healed (Isaiah 53:5), and, it was by this world's stripes that these people were Redeemed. The following are just a handful of "stories" of those that may or may not sit in the front row at your Church. While nobody deserves the right (the Mercy) to sit in the front pews, all have been given their tickets to the front row by the Price (the Grace) that Jesus paid for us on the Cross. These tickets, while freely-given also must be "kept" through hearing God's Call, being Faithfully-Obedient to God, and exuding a ruthless Trust in Him. Reckless Love made those pews available to all of us, so what Choice do we really have? God bless and Godspeed!
