|
Day 29What is the Gospel-Centered Life?
Monday, March 19, 2018 “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures…” 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
|
Devotional:
The New Testament teaches us that we Christians ought to hear the gospel as much as non-Christians do. In most of Paul’s letters to churches, sizable portions of them are given over to rehearsing gospel truths- to believers. For example, Ephesians 1-3 is all gospel. Colossians 1-2 is gospel, and Romans 1-11 is gospel. Re-preaching the gospel and then showing how it applied to life was Paul’s method of choice for ministering to believers. This then gives us the pattern to follow in approaching our daily life. Preach the Gospel to ourselves. Live the Gospel out every day. It is our Daily Need- there is simply no other way to compete with the forebodings of my conscience, the condemning of my heart, and the devil’s lies of the world than to overwhelm such things with the daily rehearsing of the gospel.
“What does it mean to be Gospel-Centered?”
To me, it is no longer about me. Thank God! It is about Jesus living His life through me. It is about the seed of Christ in me, that has my unique DNA He created in it, being brought to life through His death, burial, and resurrection, being formed and grown into the me that belongs to Him, living out His perfect design for the good of His Body and the glory of His Name.
To Max Lucado: “It means everything about you finds its purpose in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ… so that we anchor to the Gospel and let the Gospel define us.
To Elyse Fitzpatrick: “It’s not about me, not about how I am doing day to day any more, but it is in fact, a resting and rejoicing in what Christ has done for me and then living in the light of that.”
To Kevin DeYoung: “The only thing I can boast in and the only thing I have to boast in is the Cross of Jesus Christ… my life is not my own, I belong in body and soul to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.
To John Piper: “The great value of focusing on the Gospel is that Christ died, the Righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God… that the whole point of the universe is to close the gap between us and God so that we may spend our eternity knowing, treasuring, loving, and glorifying God.”
So, dear Friend, take a minute today to write down your answer to the question: What does it mean to be Gospel-centered? The very act of asking yourself for the answer will bring you to the place you need to be everyday as you continue your walk down the Gospel Road- at the Cross.
“What does it mean to be Gospel-Centered?”
To me, it is no longer about me. Thank God! It is about Jesus living His life through me. It is about the seed of Christ in me, that has my unique DNA He created in it, being brought to life through His death, burial, and resurrection, being formed and grown into the me that belongs to Him, living out His perfect design for the good of His Body and the glory of His Name.
To Max Lucado: “It means everything about you finds its purpose in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ… so that we anchor to the Gospel and let the Gospel define us.
To Elyse Fitzpatrick: “It’s not about me, not about how I am doing day to day any more, but it is in fact, a resting and rejoicing in what Christ has done for me and then living in the light of that.”
To Kevin DeYoung: “The only thing I can boast in and the only thing I have to boast in is the Cross of Jesus Christ… my life is not my own, I belong in body and soul to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.
To John Piper: “The great value of focusing on the Gospel is that Christ died, the Righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God… that the whole point of the universe is to close the gap between us and God so that we may spend our eternity knowing, treasuring, loving, and glorifying God.”
So, dear Friend, take a minute today to write down your answer to the question: What does it mean to be Gospel-centered? The very act of asking yourself for the answer will bring you to the place you need to be everyday as you continue your walk down the Gospel Road- at the Cross.
Prayer: |
Lord Jesus, I confess that often my life is me-centered and not gospel-centered. Help me to focus my thoughts on the good news of Jesus and what that good news has done in my life. Help me to focus my efforts and energy on living out the treasure of salvation as I daily invite Jesus into my world.
|
Song/Hymn: |
How Deep the Father's Love for Us “…but I will boast in Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection...”
|