Thursday, 12 February, 2004

We continue a devotional journey focused around portions of Carl E. Braaten’s book “Justification.”



Four points about the reality known as “the gospel” will make up the rest of the week (today is 3 of 4).

Third, the existential focus of the gospel is no excuse for letting it slide into pure subjectivism. For the gospel which is heard is not grounded in me, but in Christ outside of me. The pro me of the gospel is based on God’s act in Christ. Away with individualism, but not with the personalizing thrust of the gospel!



The Good News is not a part of the passing fads of psychology-like authors and speakers that may appear on Oprah or hit the radio waves with tid-bits that guarantee one’s wellness. The gospel does not count on how I feel or how well I can understand or how well I can change the habits of my day. The gospel steps in and claims us! The “us” is quite important. It is a grasping of me…and of you. As individual we hear of this God who is eternally “for us” and as we look out at others -who may be completely different from our “personal” preferences and wants- we see other individuals to whom God comes for life. I find no better time to see this than in worship. We need only glance around the room and we are in the midst of a grand witness to God’s action…not mine. And there, in the sanctuary, we praise our God who is our sanctuary and our rock and the peace and hopefulness for our lives.



Connection: The gospel is a light load…it frees and it sets us into this day as God’s beloved – a power for life that nothing else can bring to us. No need to gaze into our navels this day…God raises our vision to the place given to us at the great banquet feast. Now walk into this day as though we truly believe that the invitation is given to us without qualification.



By your Grace, O Lord, we are guests within this day as your beloved children. You make us bold and you make us courageous so that in the middle of all that the world may say, your word alone feeds us and recreates us. Praise be to you, O God. Amen.