The priority of the Gospel...

--Reflection on Acts--

I have been asking myself, “exactly how important is the task of actively sharing the gospel? What do my actions reveal about my belief in the importance of the gospel?” There is the obvious “Sunday school” answer as well as the acknowledgement that I should be more involved in sharing my faith but…I’ll get around to that later because “I’m not perfect”. I do believe that actions speak louder than words and that a life characterized by the love of Christ is more powerful than Bible thumping but as I examine the lives of the heroes of faith I rarely find a passive position that leaves the testimony of Christ at the level of loving character without the actions and words behind it that are purposeful in revealing more than just the love of God but more specifically the gift of Christ in the gospel message itself.

Paul was all consumed with sharing the gospel. He saw caring for widows as important work but only as secondary to the gospel. He was so consumed with this notion, so dedicated to its purposes that he did nothing outside of this scope of sharing the gospel. Is my life characterized by actions pointing to the gospel? Is my primary concern not just for the physical or emotional wellbeing of other people but there spiritual and eternal wellbeing which can only find healing in Christ? Do I believe it so completely that I am compelled to proclaim it in whatever manner or action I can? Do I love Christ enough to dedicate myself to the task he has given me? Do I love others enough to give myself to their needs and listen to them openly? Do I believe the gospel message enough to move beyond mere compassion for others to being an ambassador for Christ?

I often find myself so surrounded by good things that I must refocus myself on the things that matter most and dedicate myself to my specific calling from Christ which, as for all believers, includes the preeminence of the task of love that points to the gospel, a task that is for the benefit of all people whether already believing or not.

-Eric