I used to think that the gospel – the good news of Jesus dying for our sins – is the most basic knowledge we must have to become a Christian and then we move on to greater and deeper truths from there. But I know now that the gospel is also the bases upon which the maturity takes place. In other words, not only is the gospel the foundation upon which we build but also the building material with which to build the rest of the building.

For example, the gospel must be the motivation behind why we give.

2 Cor. 8:8, “I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.

Here, Paul is encouraging the Corinthians to give toward the ministry. But what is the motivation he uses to do so?

2 cor. 8:9, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”

In other words, “give sacrificially since Christ gave us sacrificially.”

What if we remembered the gospel more often in our daily lives?

“I will let my co-worker taking advantage of me because Jesus let me take advantage of Him.”
“I will let my spouse have the last word since Jesus sacrificed His own desire for me.”
“I will not defend myself against those who bad-mouth me since Jesus didn’t defend Himself when being accused.”
“I will make the effort to get to know those who are uncomfortable for me to approach since Jesus became a filthy human being to approach a worm like me!”

In this way, Jesus becomes the reason for everything we do. That’s living out the gospel…

Take one more step today. Recall Jesus and His works for us more often today.

PH