I've just begun reading a book by Tullian Tchividjian, grandson of Billy Graham and pastor of the Coral Ridge Church in Florida, entitled, "Jesus + Nothing = Everything." Tchividjian counts among his gospel mentors Rod Rosenbladt, Gerhard Forde and Hal Senkbeil, all Lutheran pastors, theologians and educators.
I really appreciated the following: A gospel-saturated church is a church filled with people who give everything they have because they understand that in Christ they already have everything they need....
What do we really need in this life? Nothing that the world has to give, I can assure you. The things of this world are passing away. But Christ gives us everything we need:
Forgiveness for our sins, great and small.
Peace for our troubled hearts.
Light that overcomes the darkness that is all around us.
Hope - for today, tomorrow and for eternity.
Contentment with what we have which is more than enough.
Love that is gratefully received and then is given away.
The Gospel makes us rich. Martin Luther taught that because we are rich and because we have a God who continues to pour out His riches upon us we, in turn, can give our riches away - forgiveness, peace, hope, love and all the rest.
To whom will you bless today?
