How does a fuller view of the implications of the gospel affect how you live out your life?
Response: For several year's in my devotional life I have paraphrased John the Baptist's words, "30 He must increase, but I must decrease.” (ESV) into "more of Jesus and less of David is always a good thing. I believe and want to have more of Jesus and less of me involved in the decisions and direction of my life. This question is not a simple question as it applies to me in context to Christian standards of holiness, obedience to God, the Great Commission, God's will for my life, and other important aspects of a Christian life. What I am confronted with now is determining the pathway to set aside "self" as it is always deceitful in order to serve obediently the will of God. What is not always clear is finding God's will in the midst of choice. His will over my will.
What I know without a doubt is that I want to be more life Jesus. When I stand before God and He judges me and burns away in holy judgment the acts of my life, I want to be able to offer him something back as a gift of devotion, to demonstrate that He was all I wanted. The idea of receiving the eternal gift of life with God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit and have no gift to give to Him is concerning. When Jesus says, "Well done good and faithful servant. I want to have Jesus acknowledge that I was devoted to Him.
How can you more effectively communicate the gospel as something that is not just about a point in time (i.e. a prayer for salvation), but also a life that is lived that reflects the gospel?
As I am a Salvation Army Officer, I serve (hopefully) faithfully God in full time ministry. As such I am given opportunities weekly if not daily to talk to other people about their faith, important issues of life and how God can make a difference. To address the intent of the question, I am also burdened with the duty of my current appointment. As a Salvation Army Officer I am currently the Corps Officer (Pastor) to a Corps (Church) attached to a licensed alcohol and drug treatment program. As the Administator of the program I work with people in addition issues both the positive and negative aspects. How do I communicate and what do I communicate? I hope grace and love of God for all people. I strive to share Jesus in all aspects of my duty to the believer and non-believer. Yesterday, I talked with a person who has been lost in addiction for years and has only just returned to a belief in God. While at the same time I have to talk to people about the negative aspects of their life, using if not directly indirectly the Gospel's teaching on morality, choice, decisions, etc... I work hard and actively to be a good communicator of the Gospel. In closing someone once said, "Preach the Gospel and if you have to use words."
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