The beginning of Tullian Tchividjian’s book: Jesus + Nothing = Everything, communicates the message of realizing what the gospel is and how Christians should daily own it. As I began reading the first chapter, I was immediately hit with a realization through words from Tchividjian’s friend, Jon Wood. The following excerpt is truly thought provoking:
“With God-fueled fire in his eyes, he reminded all of us that bearing fruit requires death. Jesus said we must die in order that we might live. Daily Christian living, in other words, is daily Christian dying: dying to our trivial comforts, soul-shrinking conveniences, arrogant preferences, and self-centered entitlements, and living for something much larger than what makes us comfortable and safe. God does everything through people who understand they’re nothing. And God does nothing through those who think they’re everything.”
How powerful is that?! Honestly... dying everyday to ourselves and just giving life to God, asking Him to truly give us His strength, His ambitions, His wants for our lives! This is a challenge I am setting for myself. To wake up everyday and really THINK about the gospel. Deep down this is what I long for, what I want to give to my God. However, I do not.
I have always wondered why I can’t get into a rhythm of reading the bible and seeking God through prayer on a daily basis. Reading Jon Wood’s words: trivial comforts, soul-shrinking conveniences, arrogant preferences, self-centered entitlements, reached my soul because they describe the struggles I face day to day as I often place God in the backseat. It is exactly what Michael Davis has been talking about - am I giving myself to lesser things? Am I radically impressed? Am I living like Jesus + other things = more? Am I communicating to God through my daily actions/priorities and thoughts that He is nothing and I am everything?
The truth is that the gospel sustains our relationship and there is nothing more than the gospel.
For the first time in my walk with God, I am so thankful for the gospel. I can rest assure because I have Christ in me. He will never leave. There is nothing I can do to get more of Christ in me. Everyday I need to think about the gospel, what God did for me, how He wants me to draw close to Him and how I want to show others His unconditional love.
When we visually see something attractive, we are impressed by it. God has transformed how I accept and see the gospel, making it incredibly GORGEOUS!
