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Day 21 - Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing

Bible Passage

But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (Galatians 6:14)

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

 

Adoration

The gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried and raised to life on the third day. God is so gracious to give us this wonderful hope -- the Father planned it in eternity past, the Son accomplished it on the cross and the Spirit applies it to us by faith. This is good news, not because we work to achieve it, but because it has been done for us and we receive it by faith. Oh how wonderful is God’s love for us!

 

Meditation

We often drift when we lose our focus. Just think of all the times you’ve spaced out during a meeting or lecture. Christians often forget what our focus is and lose sight of the main thing: the gospel of Jesus Christ. Scriptures tell us that the gospel of Jesus Christ is of “first importance” (1 Cor 15:3). What does this mean? It’s not first in chronology, it’s first in priority. The gospel should be the focus and the foundation of all we do.

How then do we keep the main thing the main thing? How do we keep the gospel front and centre? We can do that by boasting in the cross of Jesus Christ, as Paul does (Gal 6:14). We boast in the gospel and Jesus’ saving work for us on the cross when we exult in the gospel, and enjoy what it means deeply.

We cultivate this enjoyment in the gospel by daily reminding ourselves of what God has done for us in Jesus Christ -- what Jerry Bridges calls preaching the gospel to ourselves every day. Regularly confessing our own personal sin and remembering who Jesus our Saviour is, so that it affects our hearts daily is the believer’s regular habit. The songs we sing in church which emphasise the gospel help us to stay focused too. When we boast in the cross of Christ, we honour Christ’s death and bring praise and glory to God our Saviour.

  • Are you boasting in anything else other than the cross?
  • Write a list of the spiritual blessing that come to us through the gospel, and give thanks for each one.

 

Prayer

God of all grace, we thank You for what You have done through Jesus Christ for us. We thank You for the cross of Christ which saves us. Help us remember the gospel daily and live lives that exalt Christ. May GBC always keep the main thing the main thing. We pray this in Jesus’ name and for the glory of His name. Amen.

Pray for:

  • The churches of Singapore to keep the main thing the main thing.
  • Believers who may have drifted from the gospel. Pray for their repentance, and that they will experience the good news in a fresh way.
  • GBC that we will keep the cross front and centre in our teaching and preaching ministries.