Is the Gospel Worth It? (Random Thoughts on Friday)

WHAT I'M PREPARING FOR SUNDAY

When Paul writes Ephesians 3 his life is not at peace.  He is suffering for the gospel.  The gospel is the story of God's redemption of mankind for His glory.  Through His son God has not only paid the penalty of sin, but He is calling unto Himself a people who through repentance and faith, live for Christ in the final season of redemptive history.  After rehearsing the implications of the gospel story for his readers, Paul makes a simple request of them:

"So I ask you do not lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory (Eph. 3:13)."  In this simple request there are some deep considerations for us about the gospel.

1. The gospel requires suffering.  Even though it is an amazing story, it is met with great resistance. This will require some degree of suffering from every person who receives the gospel.
2. The suffering required by the gospel will cause some to lose heart.  Whether it seems unfair or unfitting that God would allow such difficulty, the reality of the suffering required by the gospel is something that we are not well prepared for, nor are we well equipped.   Why?  Perhaps it is a mixture of bad theology and American idealism, but if it does not require us to suffer we cannot rightly say it is the gospel.
3. The suffering required by the gospel is for the benefit of others.  Paul said that not only is he suffering for his readers, but it is for their glory.  Initially, a thought like this makes us angry.  It makes us angry when we find out that those who pay taxes are funding the lifestyle of those who do not.  It makes us angry when we pay higher car insurance premiums because of those who do not.  It is making us angry now that we are finding out that those who are paying for health insurance are going to have to pay even more next year because of those who have not.  Yet the gospel requires us to suffer for the glory of others.  How do we reconcile this in our already angry American minds?
4. The suffering required by the gospel is worth it?  What is it that Abraham, Paul, Jesus and countless sufferers have found in the gospel that makes it worth the suffering it requires?

I hope you can join us Sunday at Liberty Baptist Church www.libertybaptistchurch.ws.  

WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS WEEKEND

This weekend my wife turns 29 again.  Next week my firstborn turns 13 for the first time.  This is MardiBranam weekend.  Party!

On Sunday night Caleb Waid will be at Liberty.  I am really looking forward to seeing Caleb, Brittany, and Finn.  Caleb was a Junior in High School when I went to Ridgecrest in 2002.  I have spent a lot of time with Caleb over the years both pouring into him and just enjoying serving Christ with him.  Caleb makes me laugh.  He keeps me humble.  He reminds me why I love what I do.  I can't wait to hear him preach again and see the fruits of our labors together.

WHAT I'VE BEEN READING THIS WEEK

Crazy Love by Francis Chan
Practice Resurrection by Eugene Peterson
Listening to the Language of the Bible by Lois Tverberg and Bruce Okkema
Fusion: Turning First Time Guests into Fully-Engaged Members by Nelson Searcy and Jennifer Henson

WHAT I'VE BEEN MEDITATING UPON

Haggai 1:7, "Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways."