"One simple truth should motivate our work and affect every part of who we are. Christ died for our sins. If there's anything in life that we should be passionate about, it's the gospel...Only one thing can be of first importance to each of us. And only the gospel ought to be."
C.J. Mahaney, The Cross Centered Life p.20
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That is essentially the truth I embraced the day I first believed. Not that I desired paradise enough to call on Jesus' name, not that I feared hell, but the realization of the Lord's preeminence. He was first over all, and I had been ushered to the point where I could recognize it and proclaim that Jesus was now the number one motivator in my life.
I wasn't as good as Craver - I just already knew I was sinful and defective and would go to hell without Jesus and I sure didn't want to do that.
I wish that I understood far better than I do the practical application of this truth in my everyday life!!
Whether acknowledging the preeminence of Christ or escaping eternal judgment, the quote is a reminder to us to make of first importance, the good news of Jesus' life, death and resurrection.
I don't know if you've read Jerry Bridges book, Disciplines of Grace but chapter 3 entitled "Preach the Gospel to Yourself Everyday" is the best bit of writing on how to practically apply this truth.
Good? PaLEEEEASE, Susan. You know me, Sister. I ain't no good. It's just that by God's grace, He decided to let me be his audience as he pulled the curtain back and said, "Ta-daa!"
You are so right, though. I need to remind my soul of the practical application every day. Here and now, I say I understand, but to my shame, I don't always act that way.
I think that the "preach the gospel to yourself" notion is one of the things I love about Biblical Counseling. Since the first thing we always do is try to give hope in the person and power and true character of Christ, it always ends up encouraging me because I remind myself of who He is and that He loves me and desires to interact with me in such a way as to bring glory to His name.
I'm just finishing up Scot McKnight's The Real Mary, which discusses the word "gospel" as it was used in Rome. Says McKnight, "The rise of Augustus (called "Son of God" and "Savior" and bringer-of-"peace") was declared throughout the Roman empire as..."gospel"...
McKnight goes on (and I love this)... "It can't be accidental that the four words that expressed the gospel of the Roman Empire are the same four words the angels used to express the gospel about Jesus [Son of God, gospel, Savior, peace]. The gospel that the angels announced to Mary and to the shepherds was the good news that Jesus, the Son of God, was the Savior. That could only mean one thing: Caesar Augustus was not. That's dangerous."
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