The Gospel According to You
As we sit in church on many Sundays we hear this phrase, “The Gospel according to _____.” The verses that follow are filled with an account of Jesus’ birth, His ministry, His miracles, His death, or His resurrection. These accounts are given to us from one of the men that walked beside Him or a man who lived only a few years after Jesus’ time. They share their first-hand stories of who Jesus was, what He did, and how He loved. These stories were written and passed down through the generations of the church to teach and guide us. They are intended to bring us closer to God by giving us a closer look at who He truly is.
Although those stories are from thousands of years ago they are still relevant and useful for teaching today. Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” The word of God is very much alive and still moving in the hearts of those who believe and trust in the Lord. The Gospel according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are still just as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago. Sure some of the content may get lost on us as we read God’s word via our smartphones instead of the scrolls but the words of the Lord are just as powerful now as they were when it was first written. That is why I believe it is so important to study the Gospel found in the Bible but to also study the Gospel that is played out in your life daily.
Each of us has a story, a story of how God has impacted our lives. Many refer to this as our testimony or our salvation story, but God’s work in our lives does not stop there. God is a part of our story from the moment that we were conceived until the moment we meet Him again at the heavenly gates. This story is not to be locked away deep in our mind but is to be lived out fully, it should be studied and shared with others. We should take the time to study our own stories and look for God’s grace in all of the little things in our lives. Our account of God’s hand in our lives is just as important as the ones we read out in the Bible. Our personal stories have the ability to affect so much change in our world. The people you share your story with can connect to God in a personal way through your story. There are many who feel that the stories in the Bible are outdated and far-fetched but your story is relevant for where they are now. They can connect and relate to our story of how God has led you through your own desert into the promised land.
Take a moment to think about your story and about how God has shown up throughout your life and how He has been a part of every stage in your life. Everyone’s story is different, our paths don’t always go the same way but it always ends in the same redeeming grace. No matter where we go or where we turn we cannot change the overarching storyline that God sends His one and only son to save us from our sinful ways (John 3:16). God can use your story to impact others in a way that you could never imagine. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 tells us that what we experience, even bad times can be used to give comfort to others on their journey. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.” See we are not designed to live our life internally, we are created to be connected to God and others. We must always be willing to give an account of what God has done for us. 1 Peter 3:15 says, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,”
So what is holding you back from sharing the Gospel according to you? We all have a God-given voice that is intended to further the kingdom of God and to impact the world. We don’t have to be talented writers or even creative people to express our stories. God just encouraged us to share our story however we can. So here is your invitation! Take the time to think through the Gospel according to you and share it. Don’t keep it locked up inside any longer. Even if it feels small and unimportant I promise you that God has big plans for your story.