Posted on 03/03/2011 1:42:38 PM PST by Gamecock
Im addicted to the gospel. It burns inside of me. And it seems to get hotter ever day. I cant stop thinking about it, talking about it, writing about it, reading about it, wrestling with it, reveling in it, standing on it, and thanking God for it. For better or for worse, my focus has become myopic. My passion has become singular. Lesser things dont distract me as easily. Im not as anxious as I used to be. I dont fret over things as much. Im more relaxed. What others think of me (either good or bad) doesnt matter as much as it used to. Im enjoying life more. The pressures off. I actually think Im beginning to understand the length and breadth of the freedom Jesus purchased for me.
Jesus plus nothing equals everythingthe gospel is daily becoming for me more than a theological passion, more than a cognitive reality. Its becoming my functional lifeline! And its this rediscovery of the gospels power that is enabling me to see that,
Because Jesus was strong for me, I am free to be weak;Because Jesus won for me, I am free to lose;
Because Jesus was Someone, I am free to be no one;
Because Jesus was extraordinary, I am free to be ordinary;
Because Jesus succeeded for me, I am free to fail.
This is beginning to define my life in brand new, bright, and liberating ways. I believe God wants this liberating truth to define your life as well and the life of the church corporately. Because Im telling you right now, when you begin to understand that everything you need and long for, in Christ you already possessit enables you to live a life of scandalous freedom, unrestrained fearlessness, and unbounded courage. When you dont have anything to lose, you discover something wonderful: youre free! Nothing in this broken world can beat a man who isnt afraid to lose! And when youre not afraid to lose you can say crazy, counterintuitive stuff like, To live is Christ and to die is gain! Thats pure, unadulterated freedom.
This is why I tweet as much as I do. Im processing the gospel all day long in 140 characters. Therefore, from time to time I post some of my more recent tweets to show you how God is working the gospel deeper into me and what Im learning. Twitter has become for me an online personal journal. I hope you can benefit from the things God is teaching me.
Enjoy
* The banner under which Christians live reads It is finished.
* Our security is in Christs achievement for us, so now were free to admit our weaknesses without feeling like our flesh is bring ripped off our bones
* Only when you realize that the gospel has nothing to do with your obedience but Christs obedience for you, will you start to obey!
* At no point in time, either before God saves you or after, does your behavior determine Gods love for you.
* Since a Christians value and identity is anchored in Christ and is not anchored in being right, the gospel frees us to admit were wrong.
* The gospel frees us from trying to impress people, prove ourselves to people, and make people think were something that were not.
* The gospel transforms us precisely because its not itself a message about our transformation but Christs substitution.
* The gospel frees us to realize that while we matter, were not the point.
* Doing will become instinctive and spontaneous only when our hearts become deeply gripped by whats been done!
* Only the gospel can liberate us from the miserable, unquenchable pursuit to make something of ourselves by using others.
* Because everything we long for we already possess in Christ, were now free to love people, not use them.
* Our improvement comes from Gods approval; Gods approval does not come from our improvement.
* Christ fulfilled all of Gods conditions on our behalf so that our relationship with God could be unconditional.
* The gospel frees you from the pressure of having to make something out of yourself.
* Christian, the level of passion with which God loves you is not determined by the level of passion with which you love him. The Sons passion for you secured the Fathers passion for you.
More good stuff from Billy Graham's grandson.
I love the first paragraph. It says it all. Thanks for sharing.
Rejoice that the Holy Spirit is working in you so.
Psalm 16:11
Great stuff! Thanks for posting it.
awesome. thanks.
What a great message!
Good stuff!
Love it! Thanks!
Hoss
Right on!
When we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God we will not be anxious about life. We will not speed in our cars thinking we will miss something. We will not buy things on impulse fearing we will not get something we need. We will not wring our hands over decisions we have made wondering that we may have messed up. We will not always strive to possess things believing that there is some thing that will provide for us the ultimate satisfaction.
I can't get past his lack of grace, humility, and willingness to take responsibility for his acts in connection with his hostile takeover of CR. He left one of his underlings holding the bag when there was blowback.
Bump
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