“We’ve underestimated the power of the good news. There’s nothing more than the gospel. And there’s so much more to the gospel.”- Scotty Smith, founding pastor of Christ Community Church (Franklin, TN)
“You thrill me, LORD, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done. O LORD, what great works you do! And how deep are your thoughts.”- Psalm 92:4-5 (NLT)
“Resist rushing and seize the opportunity in hidden years to discover how you are uniquely designed to walk intimately with God.”- Alicia Britt Chole
In Chapter 2 (“God Draws Near”) of Closer Than Your Next Breath, Susie Larson observes that our often-skewed perspective limits our ability to comprehend God’s involvement in the world and in our lives. Therefore, Susie underscores, it behooves us to spend our lives following, fellowshipping, and fiercely believing what God says. As a result, we’ll grasp something of His goodness and grace. And that changes everything for us.
Yet, Susie notes, so much more remains. Our star-breathing God’s glory, majesty, authority, sovereignty, and power. A God who delights to fellowship with us. Imagine that! Psalm 19:2 reminds us that daily the heavens pour forth speech. God’s always speaking. May we always be listening.
In conclusion, Susie cites A. W. Tozer in his book The Pursuit of God. Tozer observed that Christians who do great things for God possess what Tozer called spiritual receptivity. He wrote:
“Something in them was open to heaven, something which urged them Godward. . . . They had spiritual awareness and . . . they went on to cultivate it until it became the biggest thing in their lives. . . . When they felt the inward longing they did something about it. They acquired a lifelong habit of spiritual response.”
Hence, Susie asks, what might a habit of spiritual response (emphasis Susie’s) look like for you? In addition, do you respond differently to God when you sense His presence and when you don’t?
Today’s question: Do you agree with Scotty Smith that there’s so much more to the gospel? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Our trials and triumphs”
