The Gospel Coalition

     For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Romans 8:15-16

     Gracious Father, on any given day, there are a number of voices contending for my thought life. There are the voices of my past, sometimes yammering loudly… sometimes just nickel-and-diming my peace away with the refrain “If people really knew who you… You still don’t have a clue, do you? You’ll never really amount to much.”

     Then there are the voices of my present, often hijacked by the defeated enemy, Satan. His incessant scheme is to tempt me, seduce me, then condemn me—doing anything and everything possible to rob my enjoyment of the gospel. Sometimes he shouts, more often he whispers, always he’s conniving and always he’s condemning.

     Then there’s the voices from the future, usually fueling my fears with suggestions like, “You’re not as sharp as you used to be, are you? You’ll probably be forgotten, won’t you? You’ll probably end up all alone, right?”

     But, most present and persistent Father, then there’s the voice of the Holy Spirit…O, how I praise you for that One voice which transcends and trumps every other voice—the gossiper of the gospel… the herald of healing… the bearer of beauty… the messenger of mercy… the singer of sanity… the cantor of Christ… God the Holy Spirit testifying with our spirit that we are your bought, belonging and beloved children!

     Abba, Father, may the Spirit of sonship continue to free me from all of my slavish fears—past, present and future, and free me for a life of the glorious freedom of the sons and daughters of the living God. May the Spirit speak so loudly and convincingly, as to drown out all the other voices vying for my attention. Transform me by the renewing of my mind as the Holy Spirit teaches me more and more about the wonders of sonship. So very Amen, I pray, in Jesus’ triumphant name.

     When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.  Acts 4:13

     Lord Jesus, this simple story is simply what I need this morning. Peter and John, two unschooled, ordinary fishermen were radically changed and wondrously engaged in life because “these men had been with Jesus”—with you, the same Lord who lives in my heart and rules all things from heaven. Today, right now… more than anything else I need to connect with you, Jesus.

     It’d be nice to hear others say, “He’s obviously been with Jesus. What else could explain his merciful heart for the broken… his outrage in the face of injustice… his calm in the midst of all kinds of provocations. What other motivation and reason would he have for loving so boldly, forgiving so deeply and giving so generously? Yeah, he’s been with Jesus, alright, because that’s surely not the guy we remember from a while back.” Jesus, as “nice” as that would be, that’s NOT AT ALL what I’m thinking about and longing for this morning.

     I don’t really care what people think or don’t think about me right now… what they say or don’t say about me. I crave fresh fellowship with you in the core of my being. Union with you by faith is one thing, but vital heart engaged communion with you is quite another, Jesus.

     Doing things for you is not the same thing as spending life-giving time with you. Thinking great thoughts about you is not the same thing as connecting intimately with you. Helping others understand the gospel is not the same thing as crying out from my unfettered refreshed heart… 

     Who do I have I in heaven but you, Jesus? And being with you, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, but you, Jesus, are the strength of my heart and my portion forever… It is good, and it is enough, for me to be near you… my sovereign savior and my loving refuge.

     Come, Holy Spirit, come. Ignite within my heart renewed affections and life-changing communion with Jesus. That’s what I need and want more than anything else. So very Amen, I pray in his most gracious name.

     Who are you, O man, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ “Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use? Romans 9:20-21

     Gracious Father, this morning I’m pondering the mystery and mercy of your sovereignty… especially as I consider everything you did to redeem rebels and idolaters like me. The cross was no accident. It was you who handed over Jesus to wicked men, who put him to death by nailing him to the cross… all according to your set purpose and foreknowledge (Acts 2:23-24).

     Indeed, Jesus’ death for us on the cross was no accident… afterthought… plan B, or the redeeming of a good story gone kaput. The comfort and peace I enjoy from this supreme demonstration of your sovereignty is incomparable and immeasurable.

     Lord Jesus, no one could’ve put you on the cross apart from your will… and though your own disciples tried, no one could have kept you from the cross apart from your will. Because of the forthcoming joy, you endured the cross for us—scorning its shame and exhausting our guilt (Hebrews 12:1-3). We praise you for your incomparable gift.

     So Father… as I much as I celebrate and find comfort in the supreme sovereignty of Jesus’ cross, why am I such a knuckle-head to struggle with it anywhere else? Why do I want to reverse rolls and make me the potter and treat you like malleable clay? Why do I prefer at times to have a Play-Doh or Gumby God, instead of a sovereign Father?

     I don’t have any problem with you setting up and sitting down presidents, premiers and potentates. But when it comes to things that are limiting, inconvenient or a contradiction of how I would do things if I was a God of love with all power available to me… I really don’t need to finish that sentence. My words expose my unbelief and mock my foolishness.

     Father, my early September cry is simply this… give me joy in being gospel-pottery. You’ve placed the incredible treasure of Jesus in this jar of clay to prove your all-surpassing power in making all things new. You are the Potter who is redeeming a pan-national family to inhabit the new heaven and new earth. Let me be humble, grateful and content with my place in that story. You really do do all things well. So very Amen, I pray, in Jesus’ most glorious and sovereign name.

     Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:21

     Dear Jesus, it always come back to you, and well it should. There’s simply nothing more important about us than how we think about you. In every season of my life… during the course of any given day, the question is always on the table, “Who do you say I am?” (Matt.16:15), and you’re doing the asking. How we respond affects every relationship in which you’ve placed us.

     Continue to free me of every wrong notion I’ve ever had about you, Jesus… those generated by the projections of my vain imagination… the corrupting lies of Satan… the distortions of wrong or incomplete teaching… or the glory-limiting blinders of my unbelief.

     Fill our hearts with fresh gospel-induced reverence for yourself, Jesus—that is, awe… wonder…astonishment… amazement… gratitude… humility… joy… adoration… love.

     I want to revere you, Jesus, not be afraid of you. Your perfect love for us in the gospel drives out all fear. Fear has to do with judgment and punishment, and you’ve already exhausted both on those for us on the cross. I rob you of glory when I second guess the sufficiency of the cross.

     I want to revere you, Jesus, and not take you for granted. I struggle with this more than being afraid of you. Forgive me when the theology of the gospel rolls off my lips with staccato-like precision… yet devoid of childlike wonder. It’s not okay when I show more passion in defending justification than astonishment that you’ve justified me.

     I want to revere you, Jesus, and not fall into presumptive familiarity. You are God and I am not. That you died to make us your Bride… that you’ve already dressed us in the wedding garments of your righteousness… and that you love us as an impassioned Bridegroom, is absolutely staggering and brimming with implications. What does it mean to come alive to this blessed standing in grace and these outrageous measureless riches, without assuming the right or ever “getting used to it”?

     Show us, Jesus, show us. So very Amen, I pray, in your matchless and merciful name.

      When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” the servant asked. “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:15-17

      Gracious Father, there are times when the “odds” feel quite stacked against us, as your people. With the naked eye, the enemies of justice, truth and the gospel greatly seem to outnumber your “troops.” Serving you feels quite overwhelming at times even futile.  

     But just when I begin to retreat into a basement of fear, or question your concern and faithfulness … once again, you open the eyes of my heart and show me the way things really are. You’re such a patient and merciful God.

     Though serving you is not like a childhood game of kickball, when we did our best to choose the best players for our team… nevertheless, it is good… no, vital to know that because of the gospel, “those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (2 Kings 6:16).

      But the way of the gospel will always be strength in weakness… the transforming treasure of the gospel in fragile clay pots, like us. It was 300 poorly armed soldiers, not 34,000 fighting men, you sent with Gideon to defeat the Midianite army. Jesse’s youngest son, David… a young shepherd, was your choice to be the king of Israel. Most profoundly, it was the crucifixion of Jesus, not an insurrection of zealots, which won our salvation.

     Father, the “odds” are never really stacked against your covenant purposes and your transforming kingdom. You’re not “trying” to do anything… You never have to resort to plan B… You never hedge your bets. You are God, and there is no other god…

     So help us, and your servants throughout the world, not to become weary in preaching the gospel and planting churches… in doing justice and loving mercy. We will reap a harvest at the proper time, if we do not give up (Gal. 6:9)… and the gospel is all the motivation, hope and power we need not to give up.

     Before Jesus returns, he will redeem his pan-national Bride, and when Jesus returns, he will finish making all things new and he will usher in the new heaven and new earth. Our labors in the Lord are often exhausting and discouraging, but they are never in vain (1 Cor. 15:58). So very Amen, we pray, in Jesus’ trustworthy and triumphant name.

     “My word that goes out from my mouth, it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” Isaiah 55:11-12

     Gracious Father, you know how much I love mountains, of all shapes and sizes. There’s just something about mountains that causes my heart to feel the greatness of your glory and grace—the weightiness of your majesty and the endlessness of your mercy. What a Creator!  What a creation!

     I guess it started with Boy Scout trips to the hills of western North Carolina, then onto exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains, around Boone and Banner Elk, NC. And I’ll never forget my first sighting of the Rocky Mountains in Estes Park, Colorado… the shimmering Aspen leaves against the rich blue of a humidity-free haze-less fall skyline!

     But then there was the day I stepped off the train in the village of Interlaken, Switzerland, and got hammered with the holy wonder of three Alps, the Eiger, Monch and the Jungfrau… I can still see, smell, feel and taste the sensual overload of that day. Indeed, Father, the works of your hands declare your glory, loud and clear. How can I keep from singing your praise?

     But, Father, these words of Isaiah envision a Day when the mountains, themselves, will burst into song—the new song of the new creation. Though your glory is clearly revealed in the beauty of your creation, it is revealed ten thousand times more in the redemption that you freely give us in Jesus. Jesus is the Alps of your mercy, grace and love for us!

     Because of Jesus, we, your redeemed people, will go out in joy and be led for into the peace—in the shalom… the perfect order, society, environment and world of the new heaven and new earth. You have spoken… you have promised… and so shall it be! Your Word will accomplish everything you decree and all your delights. 

     So in light of that Day of singing mountains and clapping trees, we enter this day praying and singing… “Joy to the World, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.” So very Amen we pray and sing, in Jesus’ matchless name.

     I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:23-27

     Dear Jesus, this is one of those passages I used to avoid as a recovering legalist. Once I came to rest in your righteousness, alone, for my salvation, it was Scriptures like this one that confused me… at times activating that part of me that still thinks I can do more to make you love me more. How I praise you for the ongoing teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit. How I thank you for showing me more about living in line with the truth of the gospel (Gal. 2:14).

     The gospel sets us free from working for wages. We now run for a crown. Ultimately, every crown will be laid at your feet, Jesus, for you have earned our salvation for us. Our obedience merits nothing, but it does show that we love you (John 14:15). How can we honestly say we love you if we disregard what you say?

     The gospel sets us free from running aimlessly and beating the air. We now live in a story of redemption and restoration. All of history is bound up with your commitment to redeem your people from the nations and to make all things new. We praise you for rescuing us from a little narrative of self-fulfillment for a life of kingdom advancement. There is grace for the whole race. We can make no excuses.

     The gospel sets us free from beating ourselves up because of shame and pride. We now train ourselves for godliness. We are to bring our appetites and bodies in submission to the gospel (1 Timothy 4:7-8). Forgive us when we are more disciplined out of vanity than out of a commitment to grow as your disciples. Fitting into our pants is not as important as revealing your beauty.

     Jesus, you are the one who has “won the prize” for all of us. Only the gospel qualifies us to “share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light” (Col. 1:12). We do not fear losing our salvation. But do let us fear, and grieve, misrepresenting you and “frittering away” this one short life you’ve given us. Show us how to do all things for the sake of the gospel… by the grace and truth of the gospel. So very Amen, we pray, in your most loving name.

     And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. 1 John 4:16-18

     Heavenly Father, there are a lot of things we rely upon daily, without giving these things much thought. We rely on water coming out of the shower head as we prepare for the day. We rely on our cars starting when we turn the ignition key. We rely on bridges and overpasses to sustain the heavy traffic flow on our way to work. But there is nothing we must be able to rely on, more so, than your love for us in Jesus. And there is nothing to which we should give more thought daily.

     Father, we praise you that your love for us is actually knowable. We don’t have to guess… we don’t have to live with uncertainly… we don’t have to be paralyzed with fear. This is love, not that we loved you, but that you loved us and gave your Son, Jesus, as a sacrifice of atonement—as a propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:10). There is no greater demonstration of love in all of history than your gift of Jesus on our behalf. We love you, or anybody, only because you first loved us, and continue to love us in Jesus (1 John 4:19).

     Father, we praise you that your love for us is reliable daily. We are thrilled to know your love drives out all fear of judgment and punishment. We no longer have to be afraid to die. We can live with the absolute assurance of heaven. Your love for us in Jesus is absolutely reliable as we face death. Jesus has exhausted the penalty of our sin. We will never be punished for our sins because Jesus took the punishment we deserve on the cross. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

     However, we can… and we must… fully rely on your love well before we die. Nothing but your love can enable us to love others the way you are calling us to love them.

     We share that reliable shower with family members. Father, your love is enough for us to love our spouses, children, parents and siblings to your glory. Loving well is never easy, for we are sinners in need of grace. Help us to fully rely on your love as we seek to demonstrate and enjoy the gospel in our homes.

     We drive those reliable cars on streets with all kinds of people all around us. Father, forgive us when we navigate through life as though we are the point… mindlessly oblivious to people and needs all around us. Give us your eyes and your heart for other people with whom we share the roadway and traffic jams.

     We cross over bridges and overpasses en route to jobs, schools, church buildings… all kinds of destinations. Father, by the power of the gospel, make us far more intentional about loving well once we get where we are going.

     Convict us about our bad attitudes… the utilitarian ways we relate to one another… the ways we take each other for granted… the indifference we show to one another. We don’t work, study, play and worship with any ordinary people. Everybody matters. There are no little people, places and moments. You are writing amazing stories of redemption all around us.

     Father, help us to fully rely on the love you have for us today…  for all the demands and delights of loving well. So very Amen, we pray, in Jesus’ compassionate name.

     Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2

     Gracious Father, every day, with no exceptions, I need a refresher course in the gospel. Better said, I need the gospel every day.  If I’d been one of Martin Luther’s students, he probably would’ve been looking at me when he said,“Most necessary it is, therefore, that we should know this article (the gospel) well, teach it unto others, and beat it into their heads continually.”

     I make no apologies… I feel no shame… I offer my head and heart for a good “gospel-beat-down” this morning.

     Therefore, I’m going to dial in my gaze on your mercy (not my mess or merits), which of course means, I’ll fix my eyes of Jesus. There’s no greater expression or concentration of your mercy than in Jesus. He is the author and the perfecter of my faith… but he’s also the object of my faith. I cannot look at me and Jesus at the same time.

     So, Father, I look to Jesus, right now and what I see is the One who completely fulfilled your law for me… the One who, on the cross, took all the punishment I deserve for my sins… and the One who is my perfect righteousness, now and forever.

     As I see Jesus this morning, I go “palms up”… in praise and in surrender. I cry out with your beloved sons and daughters,  “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Cor. 9:15) To know that we are fully and eternally accepted and acceptable in Jesus is staggering, freeing and transforming.

     That’s why I now surrender my body to you, Father… my whole being… as a sacrifice of praise. Jesus is the only sacrifice for sin I’ll ever need. My sacrifice is an act of worship… the kind of worship only the gospel can create. Take my mind… my emotions… my choosing… the actual members of my body, and use them for your glory. I’m no longer my own… you bought me and have set me apart for a life that’s holy and pleasing to you, Father.

     You’ll never love me more than you do today, and you’ll never love me less, but I want to love you more by loving Jesus… embracing your good, pleasing and perfect will, as it’s revealed in the Scriptures… and hating sin and evil.

     Father, I realize the primary means by which you change me is through the renewing of my mind, so keep on applying the grace and truth of the gospel to the way I think, and the way I look at all things. The gospel is so counterintuitive… it contradicts the way I’ve always thought about you and the way the world seems to operate. So keep showing me more and more of Jesus’ beauty and the wonders of his kingdom, so I will be less enticed and shaped by the values of the world around me. So very Amen, I pray, in Jesus’ most glorious name.

     Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. Ephesians 6:24

     Dear Jesus, I need this “word” like I need oxygen and water, for I cannot exist apart from your love. The call to love you with an undying love is not a burden or performance. It’s simply the privilege we share living in response to the dying love and everlasting love with which you love us so lavishly. There’s no greater demonstration of love in the history of love and affection than your death for us upon the cross. Throughout eternity, we’ll feel as though we’re just beginning the survey of the wonders of your cross.

     You didn’t lay down your life for deserving friends, but for rebels, fools and idolaters, like me. You love us and you’ve freed us from our sins by your blood, and you’ve made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God and Father forever (Rev. 1:5). Now Jesus, please make the familiar sound of these words come alive with holy passion and fresh delight.

     Even as we first needed grace to respond to your love (Eph. 2:8-10), so we need grace to stay alive to your love and to love you as you deserve to be loved. Your love for us is the one constant in our lives. Everything else changes. Everything else is subject to whim and fancy. Our brothers and sisters in heaven are more happy than we are, but they are not more loved. But our love for you ebbs and flows.

     Jesus, give us grace to love you with an undying love. May the cooling of our affections for you bother us more than the fragile economy… our broken relationships… political upheaval in the world… concerns about our health… getting older… or anything else. Jesus, don’t let us get used to status quo… middle class… business-as-usual love for you.

     If by the Holy Spirit we hear you saying to us this morning, “I hold this against you. You have forsaken your first love” (Rev. 4)… may it seem like a huge kiss from heaven. For it means you are pursing us… you love us… your desire is for us… your banner over us is love. That you are jealous for our love is the greatest compliment you could possibly pay us. Indeed, Jesus, restore to us the joy of being loved by you in the gospel. Restore us to loving you as your much beloved Bride. So very Amen, we pray, in your glorious name.