Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 30: To Him Be the Glory

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 30: To Him Be the Glory

June 30th. Day 30 of walking through “Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily” — Part 1 of “A Gospel Primer for Christians” by Milton Vincent.


Today’s reason — To Him be the Glory.


Our final reason is another BOLD proclamation as to why we MUST keep the gospel at the center of all we do and say, think and feel.


And about this final reason to rehearse the gospel daily, Vincent says this...


“‘To the praise of the glory of His grace… To the praise of His glory… To the praise of His glory.’ {Ephesians 1:5-14} These refrains fly as banners over the gospel truths parading through the earthly verses of Ephesians. They herald the ultimate motive of God in all His gospel acts on behalf of those whom He has saved. They also announce the effect which the gospel will most certainly wield upon those who experience its fullness. It is no surprise, then, that the Apostle ends his gospel review in Ephesians 3 by bowing his knees in worship and ascribing all glory to God. {Ephesians 3:14-21} ‘Unto His be the glory,’ Paul exclaims at the end of Ephesians 3. ‘To…Him be the glory,’ he cries after his gospel meditations through Romans. {Romans 11:33-36} ‘To the King…be glory,’ he urges in 1 Timothy after speaking of God’s merciful saving of him. {1 Timothy 1:15-17} Clearly, the gospel generated in Paul an enormous passion for God’s glory; and the gospel does the same in me as I make it the meditation of my heart each day.”


He continues by saying...


“Understanding that I am not the ultimate end of the gospel, but rather that God‘s glory is, actually enables me to embrace my salvation more boldly than I would otherwise dare to do. For example, when my timid heart questions why God would want to love one so sinful as I, I read the answer, ‘to the praise of the glory of His grace.’ I figure, then, that my unworthiness must actually be useful to God, because it magnifies the degree to which His grace might be glorified as He lavishes His saving kindness upon me. This line of reasoning makes perfect sense to me and convinces me to embrace the gospel with greater passion so that God might glorify Himself through me, an unworthy sinner.”


Vincent concludes by saying this...


“Indeed, the more I embrace and experience the gospel, the more I delight in the worship of God, the more expressive my joy in Him becomes, and the more I yearn to glorify Him in all I say and do.” {1 Peter 1:6-9, 1 Corinthians 10:31}


Oh what a sweet 30 days this has been… Walking through these reasons to rehearse the gospel daily with each of you. Knowing the “why” behind our “walk” makes our daily walk with Him more consistent, more dependent upon Him, and more useful for His kingdom. I am convinced now more than ever that the gospel has everything to do with Him, and little to do with me — and that little it has to do with me is still ALL for His Glory! I am grateful for the gospel. I will not stop preaching it to myself and others each and every day — take hold of it and be bold with it!


Are you with me? Or a better question… Are you with Him? Have you given your life to Christ? If you are not sure how to answer that questions or you have other questions, I’d love to help. Just message me.

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 29: My Manifesto

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 29: My Manifesto

June 29th. Day 29 of walking through “Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily” — Part 1 of “A Gospel Primer for Christians” by Milton Vincent.


Today’s reason — My Manifesto.


Let me tell you right now, we are finishing strong! These last two reasons are like the grand finale of our a fireworks display. They’re a BOLD proclamation as to why we MUST keep the gospel at the center of all we do and say, think and feel.


And about this 29th reason to rehearse the gospel daily, Vincent says this...


“Boldness is critical. Without boldness, my life story will be one of great deeds left undone, victories left unwon, petitions left unprayed, and timely words left unsaid. If I wish to live only a pathetically small portion of the life God has prepared for me, then I need no boldness. But if I want my life to bloom full and loom large for the glory of God, then I must have boldness — and nothing so nourishes boldness in me like the gospel!


He continues by saying...


“The gospel gives me boldness by banishing my great fear, the fear of God’s eternal wrath. Indeed, Christ bore God’s wrath upon Himself, not simply so I could escape that wrath on some future Day, but also that I might be released from the daily fear of such wrath as I think ahead to judgement day. Because this fear hinders the ongoing work of God in me, the love of God continually expels this fear (whenever it appears) and nurtured within me a confident eagerness to face God on judgement day. {1 John 4:17-18} Living in the daily relief of this fear frees me up to continue being perfected in confidence by the love of God, and it also serves to put all other fears, especially the fear of man, into perspective.” {Matthew 10:28}


Vincent continues by saying this...


“Additionally, the more I experience the life-transforming power of the gospel, the more confident I am in speaking it to others, both saved and lost. {Romans 1:15-16, 1 Corinthians 1:18} I know what the gospel can do in people’s lives if they would believe the fullness of it, because I see what it is doing in means in others. Therefore, I have increasing boldness to speak the whole gospel to others, {Acts 20:26-27} even amid opposition.” {Acts 4:29-31}


And continues with...


“Also, the more I comprehend what God has done for me through Christ, the more I find myself confidently coming before God in prayer, {Hebrews 4:16, Hebrews 10:19-22} speaking to Him in situations in which I formerly would have shrunk from Him, and offering requests that I formerly would have been too timid to offer (due either to the largeness of the request or my own sinful unworthiness). With greater boldness in prayer comes an increased enjoyment of God and the bounty that He gives, due simply to the fact that I was daring enough to ask for what was needed.” {James 4:2}


Vincent concludes with this...


“Preaching the gospel to myself each day nourishes within me a holy brazenness to believe what God says, enjoy what He offers, and do what He commands. Admittedly, I don’t deserve to be a child of God, and I don’t deserve to be free of sin’s guilt and power. I don’t deserve the staggering privilege of intimacy with God, nor any blessing that Christ has purchased for me with His blood. I don’t even deserve to be useful to God. But by the grace of God I am what I am and I have what I have, and I hereby resolve not to let any portion of God’s grace prove vain in me! {1 Corinthians 15:9-10} And to the degree I fail to live up to this resolve, I will. Oddly take for myself the forgiveness that God says is mine and continue walking in His grace. This is my manifesto, my daily resolve; and May God be glorified by this confidence that I place in Him.”


Like I said yesterday, and will continue to remind myself everyday: We must take hold of it and be bold with it. Preach the gospel daily — to ourselves and others.

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 28: The Ultimate Prize

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 28: The Ultimate Prize

June 28th. Day 28 of walking through “Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily” — Part 1 of “A Gospel Primer for Christians” by Milton Vincent.


Today’s reason — The Ultimate Prize.


And about this reason to rehearse the gospel daily, Vincent says this...


“In the New Testament, the gospel is several times referred to as the ‘gospel of God.’ {Romans 1:1; Romans 15:16; 2 Corinthians 11:7; 1 Thessalonians 2:2, 8, 9; 1 Peter 4:17} Such an expression should be understood in the fullest sense possible. The gospel is called the ‘gospel of God,’ not simply because it is from God, nor merely because it is accomplished through God, but also because ultimately it leads me to God, who is Himself its greatest Prize. Indeed, what makes the gospel such great news is God, who brings me to Himself {Ephesians 1:4-5} and then gives Himself so freely to me through Jesus Christ.” {Romans 5:5, John 14:21}


He continues by saying...


“The essence of eternal life is not found in having my sins forgiven, in possessing a mansion in heaven, or in having streets of gold on which to walk forever. Rather, the essence of eternal life is intimately knowing God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. {John 17:3} Everything else that God gives to me in the gospel serves merely to bring me to Himself so that this great end might be achieved. Christ died for the forgiveness of my sins so that I might be brought ‘to God.’ {1 Peter 3:18} Christ is preparing a place for me in heaven so that He might receive me ‘to Himself’ and have me forever with Him where He is. {John 14:2-3} And yes, there is a great street of gold in heaven, but is there any doubt where the street leads? Unquestionably, it leads straight to the throne of God Himself, {Revelation 21:21, 22:1-1} as do all of God’s gifts to me in the gospel.”


Vincent concludes by saying this...


“As I meditate on the gospel each day, I find my thoughts inevitably traveling from the gifts I’ve received to the Giver of those gifts; and the more my thoughts are directed to Him, the more I experience the essence of eternal life. The ‘gospel of God’ is from God, comes through God, and leads me to God; {Romans 11:36} and it is in Him that my soul finds its truest joy and rest.” {Psalm 16:11, Psalm 37:4, Psalm 73:25-28}


He is the greatest Prize, and the gospel is the only thing that gives us access to Him. Until the things of this world pale in comparison to this great Prize, we are not allowing it to change our lives. We must take hold of it and be bold with it. Preach the gospel daily — to ourselves and others.

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 27: Thankful esa Enriched by Relief

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 27: Thankful esa Enriched by Relief

June 27th. Day 27 of walking through “Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily” — Part 1 of “A Gospel Primer for Christians” by Milton Vincent.


Today’s reason — Thankfulness Enriched by Relief.


In today’s reason to rehearse the gospel daily, Vincent starts with this profound reminder as to why this daily exercise and total absorption in the gospel is key to truly living it out...


“The more absorbed I am in the gospel, the more grateful I become in the midst of my circumstances, whatever they may be.”


He continues by saying...


“Viewing life’s blessings as water in a drinking cup, I know that I could discontentedly focus on the half of the cup that seems empty, or I could gratefully focus on the half that is full. Certainly, the latter approach is the better of the two, yet the gospel cultivates within me a richer gratitude than this.”


Vincent goes on to say...


“The gospel reminds me first that what I actually deserve from God is a full cup churning with the torments of His wrath. {Revelation 14:10, Psalm 75:8} This is the cup that would be mine to drink if I were given what I deserve each day. With this understanding in mind, I see that to be handed a completely empty cup from God would be cause enough for infinite gratitude. If there were merely the tiniest drop of blessing contained in that otherwise empty cup, I should be blown away by the unbelievable kindness of God toward me. That God, in fact, has given me a cup {Psalm 116:12-13, Psalm 23:5} that is full of ‘every spiritual blessing in Christ,’ {Ephesians 1:3} and this without the slightest admixture of wrath, leaves me truly dumbfounded with inexpressible joy. As for my specific earthly circumstances of plenty or want, I can see them always as infinite improvements on the hell I deserve.”


He concludes...


“When I look at any circumstance that God apportions me, I am first grateful for the wrath I am not receiving in that moment (The empty part of the cup never looked so good!). Second, I am grateful for the blessings that are given to me instead of His wrath. (Life‘s blessings, however small, always appear exceedingly precious when viewed against the backdrop of the wrath I deserve.) This two-layered gratitude disposes my heart to give thanks in all things {1 Thessalonians 5:18} and it also lends a certain intensity to my giving of thanks. Such a gospel-generated gratitude glorifies God, contributes to peace of mind, {Philippians 4:6-7} and keeps my foot from the path of foolishness and ruin.” {Romans 1:21-29}


This reason resonates as well simply because viewing ALL we have in Christ against the backdrop of ALL we would miss without Him...Wow! Even the tiniest drop of blessing in Him is more than enough to sustain my parched soul, because without Him even a cup overflowing with all the world offers would never ever come close to satisfying what He alone can supply.

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 26: Mortifying the Flesh with Fullness

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 26: Mortifying the Flesh with Fullness

June 26th. Day 26 of walking through “Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily” — Part 1 of “A Gospel Primer for Christians” by Milton Vincent.


Today’s reason — Mortifying the Flesh with Fullness.


Another amazing reason in today’s reading — another reason that resonates deeply!


Vincent starts his explanation with this...


“Though saved, I am daily beset by a sinful flesh {Galatians 5:19-21} that always craves those things that are contrary to the Spirit. {Galatians 5:17} These fleshly lusts are vicious enemies, constantly waging war against the good of my soul. {1 Peter 2:11} Yet they promise me fullness, and their promises are so deliciously sweet that I often find myself giving into them as if they were friends that have my best interest at heart.”


He continues by saying...


“On the most basic of levels, I desire fullness, and fleshly lusts seduce me by attaching themselves to this basic desire. They exploit the empty spaces in me, and they promise that fullness will be mine if I give in to their demands. When my souls sits empty and is aching for something to fill it, such deceptive promises are extremely difficult to resist.”


Vincent goes on to say...


“Consequently, the key to mortifying fleshly lusts is to eliminate the emptiness within me and replace it with fullness; and I accomplish this by feasting on the gospel. Indeed, it is in the gospel that I experience a God who glorifies Himself by filling me with His fullness. He is the One, Paul says, ‘who fills all in all.’ {Ephesians 1:22-23} He is the One who ‘fill[s] all things‘ with the gifts He gives. {Ephesians 4:7-10} And He lavishes gospel blessings upon me with the goal that I ‘be filled up to all the fullness of God.’ {Ephesians 3:14-19} This is the God of the gospel, a God who is satisfied with nothing less than my experience of fullness in Him! The first command God spoke in the Garden was, ‘eat freely.’ {Genesis 2:16} And with similar insistence He says to me now, ‘be filled.’” {Ephesians 5:18}


He continues...


“What happens to my appetites for sin when I am filled with the fullness of God in Christ? Jesus provides this answer: ‘He who continually comes to Me will never hunger or thirst again.’ {John 6:35} Indeed, as I perpetually feast on Christ and all of His blessings found in the gospel, I find that my hunger for sin diminishes and the lies of lust simply lose their appeal. Hence, to the degree that I am full, I am free. Eyes do not rove, nor do fleshly lusts rule, when the heart is fat with the love of Jesus!”


And the author concludes by saying...


“Preaching the gospel to myself each day keeps before me the startling advocacy of God for my fullness, and it also serves as a means by which I feast anew on the fullness of provision that God has given me in Christ. ‘Eat[ing] freely’ of such provision keeps me occupied with God’s blessings and also leaves me with a profoundly enjoyable sense of satisfaction in Jesus. And nothing so mortifies the fleshly lusts like satisfaction in Him.”

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 25: Hope of Heaven

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 25: Hope of Heaven

June 25th. Day 25 of walking through “Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily” — Part 1 of “A Gospel Primer for Christians” by Milton Vincent.


Today’s reason — Hope of Heaven.


Oh how this reason resonates in a way that has my heart living in the tension of longing for heaven and loving others into heaven while on earth. The most loving thing we can do is give others the truth of the gospel, plain and simple. Yes, we must live it out, but we desperately need to speak it out, too. Everyone longs for the Hope of Heaven.


I LOVE the way Vincent explains this reason to rehearse the gospel in today’s reading...


“The more I experience the riches of Christ in the gospel, the more there develops within me a yearning to be with Christ in heaven where I will experience His grace in unhindered fullness. {Philippians 1:23, 1 Peter 1:13} The reason for this yearning is simple:however great may be the present blessing of salvation, they are but the ‘first fruits of the Spirit,” the first installments of an unimaginably great harvest of glory which I will reap forever in heaven.” {Romans 8:23}


He continues by saying...


“The apostle Paul could not rehearse gospel blessings in Romans 5-8 without being reminded of his anxious longing for the future glories awaiting believers in heaven. {Romans 8:18-23} Likewise, the Apostle John could not speak of his and his readers’ status as children of God without also relishing the beautification they will experience at the revelation of Jesus Christ. {1 John 3:1-2} Neither will I be able to think long upon gospel blessings without thinking also of the infinite glories which will be mine to enjoy in heaven.”


Vincent goes on to say...


“Such a gospel-generated heavenward focus yields enormous benefits to me while on earth. The mere hope of seeing Christ in glory releases the purifying influence of heaven upon my life from day to day. {1 John 3:3} Also, knowing of the future love that God will show me in glory enables me to love my fellow-saints with a heaven-inspired love even now. {Colossians 1:4-5} I love others out of the fullness already given to me in Christ, and also out of the greater fullness that will be given to me in glory!”


He continues...


“Hope of eternity with Christ in heaven also enables my heart to thrive during the most difficult and lengthy of trials here on earth. When looking at the sheer weight of unseen glories to come, my troubles seem light by comparison; and when looking at the staggering length of eternity, my troubles seem fleeting by comparison. {2 Corinthians 4:16-18} It is only against the backdrop of a glorious eternity that my circumstances can be seen in such a manner; and the promise of this glorious eternity is part and parcel of the gospel itself.” {Colossians 1:5}


And the author concludes by saying


“Preaching the gospel to myself every day is a great way to keep myself established in ‘the hope of the gospel,’ {Colossians 1:23} so that I might experience the practical benefits that such hope is intended to bring me here on earth.”

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 24: All Things Crucified (Part 2)

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 24: All Things Crucified (Part 2)

June 24th. Day 24 of walking through “Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily” — Part 1 of “A Gospel Primer for Christians” by Milton Vincent.


Today’s reason — All Things Crucified, Part 2.


As a continuation of yesterday’s reason, today’s reason looks at crucifixion and death as a way to resurrection and life. It is equally as rich in truth as yesterday’s reason; however, it tells the “rest of the truth” in that it reassures us that death is not the end.


Vincent says it this way...


“Thankfully, the gospel teaches me that dying is not an end, but a beginning. For after Christ took up His cross and died, God raised Him from the dead, {Ephesians 1:20} exalted Him to the highest heaven, {Philippians 2:8-9} and drew Him into His bosom. {John 1:18} These facts surrounding Christ’s resurrection stand as proof positive that God will not leave me for dead, but will raise me similarly, if I would only allow myself to die. Indeed, on the other side of each later dying lie experiences of a life with God that are far richer, far higher, and far more intimate than anything I would have otherwise known.” {Romans 6:4}


Vincent goes on to say...


“In God’s economy, death is the way to life. ‘Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,’ Jesus says, ‘but whoever loses his life for My sake, he shall find it.’ {Luke 9:24} Indeed, the more comfortable I am made to the death of Christ, the more I experience freedom from from sin {Romans 6:6-7} and taste the power of the resurrection of Jesus Himself. {Philippians 3:8-10} The path to such power is paved with many dyings, and each stage of resurrection is achieved with each incident of dying to myself and reckoning myself dead to sin.” {Romans 6:11}


Vincent concludes with this...


“The more I contemplate the gospel, the more I understand this ‘word of the cross’ {1 Corinthians 1:18} stands as a blueprint for my own life story. The death that Christ died is the death to which I am also called, and the death to which I am called is my entry point to the union with Christ and life at its fullest. {Romans 6:5} So, come what may, I’ll let no one take this death from me!”


Praise God for Part 2! Death leads to life because Christ paid the ultimate price. We have access to eternity and freedom from fear of death because we have the hope of life eternally with Him!

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 23: All Things Crucified (Part 1)

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 23: All Things Crucified (Part 1)

June 23rd. Day 23 of walking through “Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily” — Part 1 of “A Gospel Primer for Christians” by Milton Vincent.


Today’s reason — All Things Crucified, Part 1.


Today’s reason is a longer one, but it is so rich in truth and will leave you excited to hear even more tomorrow for part 2. It today, Vincent starts with this...


“The gospel is not simply the story of ‘Christ and Him crucified’ {1 Corinthians 2:2}; it is also the story of my own crucifixion. For the Bible tells me that I, too, was crucified on Christ’s cross. {Galatians 2:20} My old self was slain there, {Romans 6:6} and my live affair with the world was crucified there too. {Galatians 6:14} The cross is also the place where I crucify my flesh and all its sinful desires. {Galatians 5:24} Truly, Christ’s death and my death are so intertwined as to be inseparable.”


Vincent goes on to say...


“God is committed to my dying every day, and He calls me to that same commitment.{Luke 9:23} He insists that every hour be my dying hour, and He wants my death on the cross to be as central to my own life story as is Christ’s death to the gospel story. ‘Let this same attitude be in you,’ He says, ‘which was also in Christ Jesus...who became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.’” {Philippians 2:5-7}


In the next three paragraphs, Vincent continues to expound upon what Christ’s crucifixion actually means for our own. How do we live it out daily? It’s not easy or pretty, but it sets us free from self, thus freeing us to love God because He first loved us and to love others because we are called to love them for Him. Stay with me. Keep reading...


“Crucifixion hurts. In fact, its heart-wrenching and brutality in Canaan the senses. It is a gas being in bloody affair, and there is nothing nice, pretty, or easy about it. It is not merely death, but excruciating death.”


“Nevertheless, I must set my face like a flint {Isaiah 50:6-7} toward the cross and embrace the crucifixion in everything I do. I should expect every day to encounter circumstantial evidence of God’s commitment to my dying; and I must seize upon every God-given opportunity to be conformed more fully to Christ’s death, no matter the pain involved.”


“When my flesh yearns for some prohibited thing, I must die. When called to do something I don’t want to do, I must die. When I wish to be selfish and serve no one, I must die. When shattered by hardships that I despise, I must die. When wanting to cling to wrongs done against me, I must die. When enticed by allurements of the world, I must die. When wishing to keep besetting sins secret, I must die. When wants that are borderline needs are left unmet, I must die. When dreams that are good seem shoved aside, I must die.”


Vincent concludes with this...


“‘Not my will, but Yours be done,’ Christ trustingly prayed on the eve of His crucifixion; {Luke 22:42, 1 Peter 2:23} and preaching His story to myself each day puts me in a frame of mind to trust God and embrace the cross of my own dying also.” {1 Peter 2:21-24, 1 Corinthians 15:31, Romans 8:36}


Today’s reason is a heavy one. We must die to self in order to live for Him. Period. There’s just no way around it, but oh the grace that abounds in it.

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 21: Saved for Good Works

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 21: Saved for Good Works

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!”

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 20: Chosen for Prayer

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 20: Chosen for Prayer

June 20th. Day 20 of walking through “Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily” — Part 1 of “A Gospel Primer for Christians” by Milton Vincent.


Today’s reason — Chosen for Prayer.


I already LOVE today’s reason. Chosen to have conversations with the God of the Universe. Chosen to intercede for others as Jesus interceded for you and me. What an honor. What a reason to rehearse the gospel daily.


“When God chose me in Christ before the foundation of the world, he did not merely choose me to be ‘holy and blameless’; He chose me also to be ‘before Him in love.’ {Ephesians 1:4} To be sure, I am always in God‘s presence on earth, and in heaven I will be in His presence more fully than ever. But it could also be said that in this life I am especially ‘before Him in love’ when I come ‘before Him’ in prayer and worship.” {Psalm 100:2, Psalm 68:4, 1 John 5:14}


Vincent continues by saying...


“Therefore, I can infer that prayer is not simply something I am allowed to do as a Christian; prayer is actually one of the great purposes for which God chose to save me. Christ Himself confirms this fact when He makes the following statement to His disciples: ‘I chose you...that whatever you ask of the Father in my name He may give it to you.’ {John 15:16} As a chosen one of God, I was saved to pray; and whenever I come into God’s presence to behold Him, worship Him, or make request of Him, I am arriving at the pinnacle of God’s saving purpose for me.”


Vincent elaborates a little more...


“God is radically committed to my life of prayer. He shed the blood of His son so that I might be cleansed and rendered fit {Ephesians 1:6, Romans 5:9} to stand before Him in love. He also permitted the brutal rending of His son so that I might now have a way into the Holy Place through the torn flesh of Jesus. {Hebrews 10:19-20} ‘Draw near’ {Hebrews 4:16} He says in Hebrews 4; ‘draw near’ He says in Hebrews 10; {Hebrews 10:19-22} ‘pray without ceasing,’ {1 Thessalonians 5:17} He urges elsewhere. How can I not feel the infinite sincerity of these invitations, especially when considering the painful lengths that God endured so that I might enter His presence in prayer?”


Vincent concludes with this...


“Indeed, the gospel itself serves as the sweetest of invitations to pray; and preaching it to myself each day nurtures within me a mighty impulse to come ‘before [God] in love’ and do the praying that I was elected to do.”

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Day 14: Cultivating Humility

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Day 14: Cultivating Humility

June 14th. Day 14 of walking through “Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily” — Part 1 of “A Gospel Primer for Christians” by Milton Vincent.


Today’s reason — Cultivating Humility.


About this reason, Vincent says this...


“According to Scripture, God deliberately designed the gospel in such away so as to strip me of pride and leave me without any grounds for boasting in myself whatsoever. {Ephesians 2:8-9, 1 Corinthians 1:27-29} This is actually a wonderful mercy from God, for pride is at the root of all my sin. Pride produced the first sin in the garden {Genesis 3:4-6}, and pride always precedes every sinful stumbling in my life. {Proverbs 16:18} Therefore, if I am to experience deliverance from my sin, I must be delivered from the pride that produces it. Thankfully, the gospel is engineered to accomplish this deliverance.”


He goes on to say...


“Preaching the gospel to myself each day mounts a powerful assault against my pride and serves to establish humility in its place. Nothing suffocates my pride more than daily reminders regarding the glory of my God, the gravity of my sins, and the crucifixion of God’s own son in my place. Also, the gracious love of God, lavished on me because of Christ’s death, is always humbling to remember, especially when viewed against the backdrop of the Hell I deserve.”


In conclusion, Vincent says...


“Pride wilts in the atmosphere of the gospel; and the more pride is mortified within me, the less frequent are my moments of sinful contention with God and with others. {Proverbs 13:10} Conversely, humility grows lushly in the atmosphere of the gospel, and the more humility flourishes within me, the more I experience God‘s grace {James 4:6} along with the strengthening His grace provides. {Hebrews 13:9} Additionally, such humility intensifies my passion for God and causes my heart increasingly to thrill whenever He is praised. {Psalm 34:2}”


This reason alone is such a humbling reminder of my NEED for Jesus Christ and the power over pride the gospel gives me access to. Pride must be put to death in order that humility would have its place in my heart.

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 13: A Heart for the Lost

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 13: A Heart for the Lost

June 13th. Day 13 of walking through “Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily” — Part 1 of “A Gospel Primer for Christians” by Milton Vincent.

Today’s reason — A Heart for the Lost.

This reason to rehearse the gospel Daily immediately convicted me. I do have a heart for the lost, but the passion behind that heart and the desire to have harder, deeper conversations about the gospel ebbs and flows. A few friends come to mind when I think about those who truly have a heart for the lost. I want to be better about sharing my faith. I want to do better when living it out.

All the more reason to rehearse the gospel daily, and about this reason, Vincent says this...

“The more I rehearse and exult in gospel truths, the more there develops within me a corresponding burden for non-Christians to enter into such blessings. This is also what seems to happen to the Apostle Paul while writing the book of Romans.

He goes on to say...

“In Romans 5 Paul exults in his righteous standing before God. {Romans 5:1-11} In chapter 6 he speaks of the freedom from sin which Christ has accomplished in the lives of believers, {Romans 6:1-2, 6} a freedom which Paul later confesses had not yet become fully realized in his own daily practice (chapter 7). {Romans 7:19} Nonetheless, coming into chapter 8, he recounts the fact that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. {Romans 8:1} With increasing flourish, he rehearses numerous gospel themes throughout the length of chapter 8, and he climaxes the chapter with a triumphant exclamation regarding the endless love of God which enables Christians to conquer overwhelmingly in all things.” {Romans 8:35-39}

This is a longer one today, so hang with me. Vincent goes on to say…

“What effect do such gospel meditations have upon Paul? What emotions do they produce in him besides the obvious joy he feels while reciting them? Paul bares his soul at the very beginning of chapter 9: ‘I have great sorrow,’ he says, ‘and unceasing grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ, for the sake of my brethren, my kinsman according to the flesh.’” {Romans 9:1-4}

At this point Vincent has covered 4 (and a little more) chapters of Romans with this one reason, but there is still more...

“Coming down from the heights of gospel meditation, Paul’s heart is devastated by a burden for his fellow Jews to experience the saving power of the gospel. His burden existed long before he started writing, but it is undoubtedly intensified by his rehearsal of gospel truth in Romans 5-8, a rehearsal which inevitably leads his thoughts toward the plight of those outside of Christ.”

In conclusion, he says this...

“Hence, if I wish to have a ‘Romans 9’ kind of burden for non-Christians, I should become practiced at celebrating the gospel as Paul does in Romans 5-8. Over time, my joy in the gospel will become increasingly tinged with grief, and this grief stained joy will lend a God inspired passion to my ministry of evangelizing the lost.”

Wow! Such conviction with today’s reading. I’m going to need to plant myself in Romans a little longer this morning.

Could we agree in prayer right now for an increased passion and desire for the lost...

Father, break our hearts for what breaks yours. More than anything else, give us a burden for those who do not yet know you personally and intimately. God, give us opportunities to share your love through the message of the gospel with others every single day. As we rehearse it to ourselves, may we be quicker and more ready to graciously give it to others. I’m Jesus’ Name, Amen

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 12: Stimulated to Love Others

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 12: Stimulated to Love Others

June 12th. Day 12 of walking through “Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily” — Part 1 of “A Gospel Primer for Christians” by Milton Vincent.


Today’s reason — Stimulated to Love Others.


About this reason to rehearse the gospel daily, Vincent says this...


“When my mind is fixed on the gospel, I have ample stimulation to show God’s love to other people. For I am always willing to show love to others when I am freshly mindful of the love that God has shown me. {Titus 3:1-8} Also, the gospel gives me the wherewithal to give forgiving grace to those who have wronged me, for it reminds me daily of the forgiving grace that God is showing me.” {Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:12-13}


He goes on to say...


“Doing good and showing love to those who have wronged me is always the opposite of what my sinful flesh wants me to do. Nonetheless, when I remind myself of my sins against God and of his forgiving grace toward me, I give the gospel an opportunity to reshape my perspective and put me in a frame of mind wherein I actually desire to give this same grace to those who have wronged me.”


As I was reading today’s reasons to rehearse the gospel daily, my eyes welled up with tears when I came to that last sentence. In a nutshell...


The gospel has power through Christ’s obedience, but the gospel finds opportunities through our obedience.


And then the Holy Spirit sweetly reminded me by flooding my mind with times (one just this past Thursday) when the gospel indeed stimulated me to love others, and I know it was ALL Jesus because just moments prior I had such a bad attitude and selfishly wanted to do things/have things my way, but as soon as I confessed my sin to Him, He forgave me and made a way for me to show His love to others.


A supernatural exchange takes place in our lives when the gospel takes its rightful place in our hearts and by daily rehearsing reasons for living it. The exchange manifests in so many ways. When we’re daily walking and talking with God, we’ll more readily recognize it.


His righteousness for our sin.

His love for our hate.

His forgiveness for our bitterness.

His strength for our weakness.


We are so much more in Christ! We have access to so much more through the gospel. It is a supernatural thing that stimulates us to love and good deeds.


The gospel has power through Christ’s obedience, but the gospel finds opportunities through our obedience.

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 11: My Inheritance in the Saints

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 11: My Inheritance in the Saints

June 11th. Day 11 of walking through “Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily” — Part 1 of “A Gospel Primer for Christians” by Milton Vincent.


Today’s reason — My Inheritance in the Saints.


About this reason to rehearse the gospel daily, Vincent says this...


“The gospel is not just a message of reconciliation with God, but it also heralds the reconciliation of all believers to one another in Christ. Through the death of Christ, God has brought peace where there was once hostility, and he has broken down the racial, economic, and social barriers that once divided us without Christ.” {Ephesians 2:14-16, Colossians 3:11, Galatians 3:28, Revelation 5:9}


He goes on to say...


“Also, when God saved us, He made us members of his household, {Ephesians 2:19} and He gave us as gifts to one another. {Ephesians 1:18} Each brother and sister is a portion of my gospel inheritance from God, and I am a portion of their inheritance as well. We are significant players in each other‘s gospel narrative, and it is in relationship with one another that we experience the fullness of God in Christ. {Ephesians 3:17-19, 2 Timothy 2:22, 1 Peter 4:10, Ephesians 1:22-23}


Vincent concludes with this...


“Hence, the more I comprehend the full scope of the gospel, the more I value the church for which Christ died, {Ephesians 5:25} the more I value the role that I play in the lives of my fellow Christians, and the more I appreciate the role that they must be allowed to play in mine.”


Let me just start by saying I LOVE these reasons to rehearse the gospel daily, and I LOVE the scripture Vincent shares to support each reason He gives. Today’s reason was FULL of “supporting evidence,” so please spend time reading all that was referenced. God’s Word is so much more powerful in proving a point than Milton Vincent’s or my words will ever be!


In yesterday’s post, I said, “I am fully convinced that believers ‘doing life together’ and ‘spurring one another on’ to live out gospel truths before a world desperate for truth is one of the most powerful and effective fruits of this practice of rehearsing the gospel daily.”


Well, today, I’m even more fully convinced (if that’s possible)! Jesus has broken down every dividing wall between us and the Father, and in so doing, He has established our right family standing as ONE in Christ, not strangers, but brothers and sisters. Our citizenship Heaven, this earth is only our temporary home, and these bodies our temporary tents.


Racial, social, and economic barriers lost their power to divide us once the power of God that raised Christ from the dead united us. We are found in Him, made new in Him, and have been reconciled to Him and to each other as brothers and sisters in Christ.


I’ll close with this quote from the third chapter of my Bible study CALLED, “Called to Need,” “When we need Him first in every moment of every day, our need for others and their need for us can flourish in a healthy way. His grace is sufficient for our neediness. His love covers our loneliness. His bruises mend our brokenness. His redemption fills our emptiness.”


Are you feeling a little needy today — a little lonely, broken, and empty? Just remind yourself of this reason to rehearse the gospel daily. It is your inheritance in the Saints. It is all sufficient and provides for your every need, according to His riches in Glory. {Philippians 4:19}


You are not alone. We are better together.

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 9: Enslaved by Christ’s Righteousness

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 9: Enslaved by Christ’s Righteousness

June 9th. Day 9 of walking through “Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily” — Part 1 of “A Gospel Primer for Christians” by Milton Vincent.


Today’s reason — Enslaved by Christ’s righteousness.


After reading and writing about yesterday’s reason to rehearse the gospel daily, I must admit today’s title alone kinda threw me for a loop.


So, about this reason to rehearse the gospel daily, Vincent says this...


“The righteousness of God, credited to me through Christ, is not merely something I rest in, but it is also the Premier saving reality by which God governs me. According to Romans six, when I obeyed the gospel call I was both declared righteous and “became a slave to righteousness” at the same time. {Romans 6:17-18} Quite literally, the righteousness that God credited to me became my master on the day I was converted! And now I am daily called by God to surrender the members of my being as slaves to do whatever this righteousness dictates.” {Romans 6:19}


He goes on to say...


“That I would be called to present my members as slaves of this imputed righteousness implies that my justification has something to say to me by way of directing me how to live my life each day. What it directs me to do is to be holy; and what results from my obedience to its rule is sanctification, or holiness of life. {Romans 6:19} Hence, it could be said that ‘sanctification’ is merely the lifelong process wherein I joyfully surrender myself to God’s imputed righteousness and then do whatever this righteousness directs me to do. Indeed, God has clothed me with His righteousness. Now He wants this righteousness to master me.”


Vincent concludes with this...


“The more I exult in the reality of my justification in Christ, the more I position myself to experience the full governing force of it sanctifying power in my life. And the more sanctified I become, the more I experience the full breadth of eternal life that God has given to me in Christ.”


Wow. I get it now. There are so many things in God’s Word that at first glance seem a bit contradictory, but with deeper examination and with the help of the Holy Spirit, God shifts our perspective from our natural way of seeing it to a supernatural way of experiencing it because we have believed and received!


So, yes, one reason to rehearse the gospel daily is resting in Christ’s righteousness, and yet another equally important reason is that we are enslaved by that same righteousness. By His power and action alone are we justified. By our ongoing actions (of surrender and obedience) fueled by His power are we sanctified.


I’ve also heard it explained this way...


Justification is when we receive eternal life; sanctification is when we learn to live within eternal life; and glorification is when we fully experience eternal life.


I know, I know...word choice, semantics, and nuance have fueled many a great debate as of late, but the Word says what it says, and it says, “But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.” ~ Romans‬ ‭6:17-18‬ ‭ESV‬‬


So yes, we rest in it and we are bound to it. Clothed in His righteousness. And praise God for it for it is the power of the Gospel!

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 4: Transformed by Glory

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 4: Transformed by Glory

June 4th. Day 4 of walking through “Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily” — Part 1 of “A Gospel Primer for Christians.”


Today’s reason — Transformed by Glory.


“The glory of God is the most powerful agent of transformation available to mankind. It is so powerful that it transforms those who merely gaze upon it. The Apostle Paul gives personal testimony concerning this stunning fact. ‘That we all,’ he says, ‘beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory.’ {2 Cor. 3:18} From Paul’s testimony I learned that if I wish to become all that God wants me to be, and I must behold his glory each day.”


Milton Vincent, author of this primer, offers further insight on practical application of “beholding the Glory of God in order to be transformed by it” as he has this to say about this reason to rehearse the gospel daily...


“But where do I find God’s glory to behold? Indeed, the glory of God is revealed throughout all of Creation {Psalm 19:1}, But the Bible indicates that, outside of heaven, the glory of God and it’s thickest density dwells inside the gospel. It is for this reason that the gospel is described in Scripture as ‘the gospel of the glory of Christ’ and ‘the gospel of the glory of the blessed God.’ {2 Corinthians 4:4} Consequently, as I habitually gaze upon the glory of the Lord revealed in the gospel, I can know that actual deposits of God‘s very glory are attaching themselves to my person and transforming me from one level of glory to another. {2 Cor. 3:18} This transformation is deep and abiding, and unfailingly displays the glory of God to others. {2 Cor. 3:13}”


Wow! Talk about a power packed, and somewhat abstract, reason to rehearse the gospel daily! I’ve always been intrigued by the concept of God’s glory. The thoughts I have when thinking about it in a physical form, is when Moses had to hide in the cleft of the rock to allow the glory of God to pass in front of Him. {Exodus 33 & 34} Oftentimes, it is described as a blinding light or a cloud or a pillar of fire. It manifests in God’s presence…

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 3: My Daily Protection

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 3: My Daily Protection

June 3rd. Day 3 of walking through “Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily” — Part 1 of “A Gospel Primer for Christians.”

Today’s reason — My Daily Protection.

“As long as I am inside the gospel, I experience all the protection I need from the powers of evil that rage against me. It is for this reason that the Bible tells me to “take up“ {Eph. 6:13} and “put on” {Eph. 6:11} the whole armor of God; and the pieces Of armor it tells me to put on are all merely synonyms for the gospel. Translated literally from the Greek, they are: “… the salvation… the justification… truth… the gospel of peace… the faith… [and the]… word of God.” {Eph.6} What are all these expressions but various ways of describing the gospel? Therefore, if I wish to stand victorious in Jesus I must do as the songwriter suggest and “put on the gospel armor, each piece to put on with prayer.” {“Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus,” written by George Duffield, Jr.}

Milton Vincent, author of this primer, concludes this “protective” reason to rehearse the gospel daily with these words...

“That God would tell me to “take up” and “put on” this gospel armor alerts me to the fact that I do not automatically come into each day protected by the gospel. In fact, these commands imply that I am vulnerable to defeat and injury unless I seize upon the gospel and armor myself with it from head to toe. And what better way is there to do this than to preach the gospel to myself and to make it the obsession of my heart throughout each day?”

For me personally, today’s reason is a powerful one, especially as the mom of four (very active and very adventurous) boys, and in light of the ever increasing and never ceasing corruption that threatens to take out their generation and those that will follow. It is a corruption fed by the enemy’s lies and led by evil in disguise.

Becoming a child of God by trusting in Jesus does indeed “save” us; however, waking with Him daily by spending time in His Word and then applying what we learn, keeps us “safe” (protected) while on the battlefield of this world.

It is a choice to DAILY be ready for battle — to “take up” and “put on” the FULL armor of God, each piece vital for protection.

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 1: A Daily Walk

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 1: A Daily Walk

I’m pretty passionate about the transformational power of a daily walk with God. Why? Because I’ve lived it and witnessed it, and I’ve watched how resistance to it and running from it have opposite results and actually give sin power.

Sin separates us from God. The Gospel makes a way for us to be reconciled to God and set free from that sin that separates.

It’s powerful. It’s transformational.

That’s why when I woke up this morning, I remembered going through this little book last June and sharing some thoughts everyday along the way. It was such an encouragement to me then, so I decided to do it again — as a reminder and to combat sin.

I pray this “blog series” throughout the month of June might be as encouraging to you as it is to me as I simply share some of the “whys” behind the Christian “walk.”

What is so powerful about reading God’s Word DAILY?

Throughout this series, I’ll be referencing this amazing resource used in my devotional time in the mornings — a thin little book, less than 100 pages, written by Milton Vincent, entitled, “A Gospel Primer for Christians: Learning to See the Glories of God’s Love.”

First of all, I highly recommend it, from its format to its function, it takes the reader through the “whys” and in so doing, strengthens the “walk.” Secondly, I’d love to take you through the first section with me (daily throughout the month of June).

We can engage in conversation in the comments about these 30 reasons why we should rehearse the gospel daily.

“The gospel isn’t one class among many you’ll attend during your life as a Christian – the gospel is the whole building that all the classes take place in! Rightly approached, all the topics your study and focus on as a believer will be offered to you ‘within the walls’ of the glorious gospel.” ~ CJ Mahaney, “The Cross Centered Life”

So, the first “why” to our “walk” we’ll discuss — It is a DAILY need. We must walk “IN” it as we walk it “OUT” daily.

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