BRINGING THE GOSPEL HOME

Friend, Selah… Selah is the word found in the book of Psalms that tells the reader to slow down and consider what was just said. It’s like a spiritual pause button that helps us stop and think about what’s important. I’d like everyone touched by this ministry to slow down and think about the topic of the gospel. The gospel is the good news for those who are coming to Christ, but the gospel is also the good news that believers should think about every day. Whether you are one day old in your faith or you’ve been a Christian for decades, you need to return to the good news that has changed us forever. That’s why our theme in 2019 is “Bringing the gospel home.” The goal is to make sure we never take the truth and power of the gospel for granted. Think about the gospel with me: God’s Love – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). This may be the most well-known passage in the Bible. Don’t let the familiarity of this verse blind you to its wonder. This passage tells us that God loves us so much, He took radical action by giving His Son to save us. We need to think about this every day. Selah… Forgiveness – What would you do without forgiveness? I know I would be stuck in the guilt and regrets of my past sins, not to mention deserving God’s judgment and condemnation eternally. Colossians 2:13 says, “He has made us alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses.” The gospel provides the forgiveness that subtracted sin from our lives. Selah… Justification – The word justification is from the Greek, meaning “to declare righteous.” Not only is sin subtracted from our account through the gospel, but the virtues of Christ are added to our account. Another way to think about this is to remember that when God looks at us, He sees the righteousness of Christ imputed, or added, to our account before God. Selah… Sanctification – Not only does God love us, and has forgiven us, and justified us—He is at work in our lives to change us into the likeness of Jesus. This is called sanctification, which is from a Greek word meaning “to set apart.” This sanctification sets us apart before God positionally but also progressively changes us over time. Philippians 1:6 reminds us that God started the good work in us and He will complete it. My heart breaks that these once well-known, life-giving truths have been drowned out by the noise and distraction of our time. I am sensing a greater need than ever to take a bold stand for the gospel. Would you help me bring the gospel home through the teaching and evangelism that takes place every day through Harvest Ministries? Your generosity underpins our shared burden to make a difference in people’s lives. When you support Harvest Ministries this month, I want to say thank you by sending you a book that will help you stay focused on Jesus. It’s called Face to Face with Jesus, written by my friend Randy Alcorn. This is a small book filled with big truths. It’s a compilation of quotes, short stories, and thoughts about who Jesus really is so that you can pick it up daily and spend some time thinking about and talking to the One who calls us His friends. Randy has a unique ability to take that which is really important and break it down in a way that is understandable. In this book, he presents profound truths in bite-sized portions. It’s an excellent book for starting off the new year right. If you’d like a copy of Face to Face with Jesus, you can get one by simply making a donation to Harvest Ministries this month. We’ll get one sent out to you right away. You can get your copy here.

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In Christ, Greg