by Meredith Neufeld
As a church striving to live the gospel life, pursuing Christ and His holiness, we each come to this place from different angles, yet striving for the same purpose: unity in Christ. We have this amazing opportunity to be a family, cheer one another on, comfort the hurting, pray, and be vulnerable with our own stories.
The people we live with testify to who we truly are: our spouses, children, parents, and roommates see us in our humanity. It’s here, in these hidden places, the gospel of Jesus is on full display. Our responses, choices, attitudes, way of thinking, and working is witnessed by those we spend the most time with. I wonder, do people see Jesus in me?
The radiating beauty of a gospel-formed life is ultimately a heart made new. God promises to give us a new heart. Ezekial 36:26 says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Jesus transforms us from the inside out and we can live in lightness, generosity, joy, and humility, out of the overflow of being forgiven and set free.
Matthew 5 reveals that, as believers, we are given a new posture. What kind of posture is this? It’s one whose identity has been hidden with Christ. Colossians 3:3, “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” This new life with God acknowledges our need for a Savior, and a clear turning to Jesus, not because we have it all together, but because we don’t.
As we follow Jesus, we seek to be like Him. We are broken by our own sin and pride, and realize we can do nothing apart from Him. Abiding in Christ gives us a new purpose, and we can respond to people with compassion and mercy, instead of judgment. And because Jesus is gentle with us, we can be meek. We proclaim Jesus as we seek to bring peace where hostility and hardships want to sever us.
Walking in faith with Jesus is a daily encounter with the living God. A restful trust in His goodness.
It’s submission to Christ within the hidden parts of our life and choosing to worship Him, in the unseen, even when our heart is heavy. It’s reliance on Him through the parts of life we don’t understand, embracing His forgiveness, and pressing on in faith, knowing He goes before us.
Matthew 5 beautifully articulates that Jesus had compassion on the crowds. He saw them as they were, and He loved them. Our lives are not so much influenced by tasks and productivity, but instead by people transformed by God’s love. We all remember times we have felt seen: a friend showing up with coffee, being held when we cry, finding a card in the mail, someone praying for us, or flowers delivered on our doorstep. Every meaningful moment stems from a surrendered heart and showcases the love of our Savior alive in us.
Dear one, may the love of Christ compel us to abide in our Savior’s presence, and take a step of loving action today in a world so hungry for hope. May we fully believe that God’s kingdom is here, ready to shine brightly and break through the darkness.
Questions to consider:
- Am I grieved by my own sin and shortcomings? Do I realize Jesus and His forgiveness extend to me here and now? Lord, reveal my sins.
- Am I easily distracted by lesser things- or do I hunger and thirst for God, His truth, His presence in my life? Lord, grow my hunger for You.
- Am I more concerned about judging others and being right, or extending compassion because I remember how kindly, gently, and lovingly Christ drew me to Himself? Lord, give me your heart for people.
“Gospel confidence comes when Christians are so secure in the love of God that we can get close to the ground of our own lives and our own histories, the sin and trauma that our lives and histories carry to know that even there we are loved and from there we can change and heal. And it comes when we remember that whoever we are and whatever we have done, we have been folded by grace into Jesus’ body (1 Tim. 1:12-17). It is there, in Jesus’ life and not in our own achievement and competence, that we are granted the faith and love that we need to walk justly together.”
-Warren Kinghorn, Uncommon Ground.