When Paul wrote his first letter to the church in Corinth, he had a lot of issues with which to confront them, such as their sectarian division, their sensationalism, and their compromise with the culture of their city. But he started with good news and the intention of reminding them what matters most.
The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.
~ 1 Corinthians 1:18 NLT
And I believe this strongly – that the gospel, the good news about the coming of Jesus to be the Messiah, his sacrificial atoning death on the cross, his triumphant resurrection from the grave, his enthronement as King and High Priest, and the promise of his coming again is THE truth to which my life must remain anchored no matter what.
As Christians, we should definitely be exploring and expanding our knowledge of what it is to be healthy physically, emotionally, socially, relationally, financially, and spiritually. But no message matters more than the story of King Jesus.
Why? Because allegiance to King Jesus changes everything. When Jesus Christ is King and Lord of my life, everything about my desires, my decisions, my relationships all submit to his will and his direction.
Re-read the gospels. Rehearse the good news. Remind yourself day-by-day and moment-by-moment that King Jesus earned the title deed to this planet by becoming the spotless Lamb of God and that he is fully in charge and ready at any moment to complete the redemptive work he’s been doing in the world, and in you.
In the words of the hymnist, Katherine Hankey,
I love to tell the story;
’tis pleasant to repeat
what seems, each time I tell it,
more wonderfully sweet.
I love to tell the story,
for some have never heard
the message of salvation
from God’s own holy Word.I love to tell the story,
’twill be my theme in glory,
to tell the old, old story
of Jesus and his love.
Here’s a link to Alan Jackson’s version if you care to listen.
Nations may rise and fall. Pandemics may rage. The earth may seem to break apart. But the redemptive story of Jesus Christ the Messiah will never lose its life-giving power!
