June 21st. Day 21 of walking through “Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily” — Part 1 of “A Gospel Primer for Christians” by Milton Vincent.

Today’s reason — Saved for Good Works.

“Through the gospel I learn not only of the saving works of God on my behalf, but I also learned that one of God’s key purposes in doing these works has to put me to work myself.”

Such a powerful introduction to today’s reason to rehearse the gospel! My takeaway already: His completed work on the cross fuels our ongoing work in this world.

Vincent continues with a broader explanation...

“The Bible tells me that when Christ redeemed me, He did so in order that I might now be ‘zealous for good works.’ {Titus 2:14} When God ‘works’ in me day by day, He does so in order to produce in me that desire and the power to ‘work for His good pleasure.’ {Philippians 2:12-13} Indeed, though I am saved by grace and not by works, I am God’s ‘workmanship,created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that [I] would walk in them.’” {Ephesians 2:10}

Vincent goes on to say...

“Being naturally lazy, I do not normally thrilled at the prospect of work; but the more I am brace the saving work of God on my behalf, the more I find myself in bracing the works for which God saved me. And as I am ‘working hard’ at doing these works for the hood of others, I experience the truth of Jesus’ words: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ {Acts 20:34-35} I also find myself saying with Christ, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to accomplish His work.’ {John 4:32-34} Indeed, gospel-motivated works do for this so what food does for the body. They bring refreshment, enjoyment, blessing, and strengthening to the doer of the deeds, even more so than to the receiver. Hence, the fact that God has prepared such works for me to do becomes a part of what makes the gospel such great news to me.”

Vincent concludes with this...

“Preaching the gospel to myself each day not only reminds me of the of love God for me, but it also reminds me of the love of God for the works that He has saved me to perform. When I see the Cross, I see the premium that God places on the works that He has prepared for me. How valuable all of these works must be if Christ would die so that I might now perform them! And how precious are those for whom those works are done if Christ would die that they might be served!”