This morning I had an absolute worship party in 2 Timothy. In my personal Scripture reading I am currently going through 1+2 Timothy and Daniel; and this morning I was blown away by the passionate pursuit and reckless, abandoned love of our God! The passage I was focusing on was 2 Timothy 1:8-10:
“So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But joinwith me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy life- not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”
There are so many awesome things going on in this passage! The call for boldness in the proclamation of the gospel, the call to suffer, and the powerful description of God’s love and grace for his children. That he would save us, not because of anything we would do, but because of his purpose and grace- all for his glory! And the fact that his unconditional grace was ours before the space-time continuum was even created! And that you and I get to live and breathe in the knowledge and revelation of that grace as expressed on the cross of Christ- the king who has destroyed death and with his sacrifice bought us life to be had through the gospel.
God has been teaching me lately the supremacy and sufficiency of the gospel. The fact that the story of Jesus life, death, and resurrection is the centerpiece of all existence, reality, history, and life. The fact that the love that flows freely to us because of the cross is the very foundation of our full and rich life.
It frustrates me that so many “christians” are looking for the next christian secret to life, the next four steps, the unlocked potential inside them for conquering sin and frustration. The reality is that true change which leads to true life is not found inside of us! It is not found in trying harder or gaining more knowledge. It is found in basking in the glory of Christ’s supremacy and grace. It is found in a day-to-day seeking after more of the fullness of God’s revelation on the cross.
This is what God has been teaching me. That His revelation of love and power on the Cross is the foundation for existence. That we don’t ever “outgrow” the Gospel. For all of eternity we will be basking it the glory of Christ and diving deeper and deeper into the fullness of his grace. Tomorrow morning I am preaching out of 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 and I am so excited for a chance to look at this text with my family! May God grant us all a widening of our heart's ability to receive his love and be transformed forever.
