A Gospelicious Journey

 "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 15:3

 This passage of Scripture is pretty much a summary of the Gospel (stating the historical events of it), and it was to me, a pretty accurate idea of what the Gospel was all about. Ya know, I'm a sinner deserving of hell, but Jesus came, died on the cross, and rose from the grave for me. So based my faith in that I can be forgiven of my sin and go to heaven. Yep, all of that true, and enough to sustain me for the rest of my life. That day when the Gospel invaded and conquered my sin sick heart was the best day of my life!
 Ha! Oh, but the Lord came in one day and was like, "Oh, you see this Good News Josh? Think that's pretty awesome and incredible? Well, if so then hang on my son. Let me show you more!" With that He took me by the hand, so to speak, and led me through the door of a mine. This mine was a mine that had unsearchable depths and was filled with the stunningly beautiful and unsearchable riches of Jesus and His Gospel (Eph. 3:8)!
 The Lord by His Spirit opened my eyes (and I would even go further to say the eyes of my heart) to show me that the beauty and the richness of the Gospel was infinitely greater than what I originally had seen and known. He was showing me that in the Gospel I not only have forgiveness of sins, and access into heaven (as scandalously great and glorious as that is), but that I've also received every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (Eph. 1:3). Ha! So that means that because of the Gospel, not one of those spiritual blessings is refused or withheld from me! To be clear though, I'm not talking about material, worldly things like a beautiful wife, nice family, hot car, big house in a nice neighborhood, dream job with a killer salary, etc. Nope I don't mean those things at all. What I'm talking about is being chosen by God before the foundation of the world and before I was born for salvation, adoption into the family of God; justification (right standing before God),receiving salvation from the fury of a holy God's wrath, being made holy (positionally, but not yet fully), union with Christ, being reconciled and brought into relationship with the creator God (which, by the way, is the best relationship that  one could ever have in this life), and so much more!
 Oh, and there's more as well! On this journey the Lord was taking me, He was showing me how the Gospel can be seen everywhere. What do I mean by that? Well for one, He was showing me that in all of the Bible, the Gospel can be found. Yes, pretty much in all 66 books in the Bible, and I would dare say in every chapter of every book. Wait! Even further every verse of every chapter of every book in the Bible the Gospel can be found! For some books (especially in the Old Testament), you may have to do a bit of digging, but trust you can always trace a passage back to the Gospel. Another way the Gospel can be seen everywhere is the fact that in many, if not all contexts, situations, topics, genres, problems, and things in life the Gospel can be found or can be brought to bear. The Gospel can be found and can relate to things like- marriage, work, raising kids, history, school, drug addictions, sports, coffee, community, racial tensions, the pro-choice and pro-life debate, politics, science, crossfit, dealing with refugees and immigrants, how the Gospel in a plethora of ways compels the church to be on mission to the ends of the earth, and much much more! God, by His Spirit has shown me, and continues to show me this!
  Now I don't know when specifically, this journey started, but my heart is thankful that the Lord has led me on it. All along the way as He shown me my beauty, and richness of His Gospel; that has left me time and time again in stunned silence, on my knees in humbled adoration, or my heart bursting with thanksgiving! It has made me giddy more than a few times thinking about it, and making me smile over and over. There's was even a season where I was absolutely obsessed over the beauty of the Gospel and Jesus who makes the Gospel glorious, to the point where I wouldn't about how the beauty of the Gospel has invaded and conquered my heart. The Gospel has helped me see and savor Jesus in beauty of the glory of His fullness! Oh, and love Him more!
 Now, even though things have seemed to settle down for me in regards to all this, I definitely believe that the journey is far from over! I'm know that there are more beautiful depths the Lord wants to show me, more  splendorous mountain peaks I've yet to see! After all the riches of Jesus and His gospel are unsearchable! So further up and further in we go! Join us!

    "The glory of Jesus Christ is better. Think of anything. Anything. Anything you can think of, the glory of Jesus Christ is better." ~Jared C. Wilson
 

The Incomparableness of Jesus: Reflections from the Gospel of John

Here are some thoughts and reflections that I shared with some friends from my time in the Gospel of John a few months ago.

 Jesus- the Self-existent, the eternal Word, Creator of all things, the Life and Light of men, with grace upon grace flowing from His fullness, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world; Son of Man, clothed in frail humanity // Such a beautiful, rich, full, vibrant, and glorious picture of our Lord, all found in John 1! 


 As I'm going through Gospel of John, I've come to the conclusion what I've already known, but my heart has tasted and seen in fresh and powerful ways- that there's never been or ever will be a more amazing, wise, empathetic, merciful, compassionate, personal, dandy (and much more) person than Jesus our Lord. He is never boring, and never ceases to amaze! What's more, because of His all-surpassing greatness, unsearchable riches, and the glory of His fullness; He is worthy of all that we can lay at the table! He's worthy of all our heart & mind, affections & daydreams,total surrender, submission, and reckless abandon!


Ha, these reflections and thoughts are summed up from my time in the Gospel of John alone. Oh how gloriously weighty they were then, and still are now! How sufficient for cravings and longings of the human soul! Just think of the incomparably glorious weightiness there would be if I added such thoughts from the other 3 gospels, Colossians, Hebrews, and Revelation!? Ha! Even all of Scripture! It would be game over at that point!

Thoughts of Inadequacy vs. Gospel Identity

Thoughts of inadequacy assaulting me 
Feelings that I don't belong
Looks of condescension directed at me
What do I have to offer?
What do I have to bring to the table?
No college degree
No notifiable skill or trade
Same job for quite a few years now
Still single
Of what use am I?

Yet these lies
They've been doing a good job
At deceiving me
They can be & have been 
Paralyzing & destructive
Coming straight from the Father of Lies
And the Gospel
Speak a more louder, truthful Word
In a tone of grace & assurance
Reminding my heart
That I belong to God Most High
Purchased by the blood of the Son
And sealed by the Spirit
Who I am, my life
Being Hidden with Christ in God
Wrapped up & bound up
In the Triune Godhead

So my worth?
It's found & realized in the Gospel
What do I have to offer?
What do I have to bring to the table?
Something of infinitely more worth
Than any skill or talent
More than any earthly achievement or accolade
It's nothing less or more
Than Jesus Christ & Him crucified