Lisa Notes: Dear God, I still need the gospel

Dear God, I still need the gospel

The gospel is not only the most important message in all of history; it is the only essential message in all of history.
JERRY BRIDGES, The Discipline of Grace

What I know now is the gospel—the good news—wasn’t just for the single twinkle in time when You crossed me over from lost to saved.

The gospel is still good news to me.
Today.
Now.

I learned about discipline before I learned about grace. Discipline is good. You take me places with it.

If I’m disciplined in study, You get me through the Bible over and over.
If I’m disciplined in prayer, I can praise, confess, petition, and thank You every day.
If I’m disciplined in memorization, I can hide chapter after chapter of Your words in my heart for use later.

Good things? Yes. Discipline opens up Your blessings.

But those blessings don’t come from discipline.
They come from grace.

Even discipline itself is a gift of grace.

If I pursue discipline without grace, I’ll fail.

I can’t obey perfectly on my own.
I can’t obtain righteousness at all on my own.
I can’t serve those I love very well on my own.

I need Christ’s obedience, Christ’s righteousness, and Christ’s love.

At the cross, Jesus became grace, and grace is the gospel.
If discipline is good, grace is better. Because Jesus is best.

You saved me years ago; You save me today. I need saving from myself daily. Not just saving from hell when I die, but rescue from being sharp-tongued to my sweet husband, and deliverance from bitterness over hurts I could be coddling, and freedom from thinking I have to perform perfectly to deserve love.

I need grace not just for my past or future, but now.
There’s never a moment I don’t need it.

And there’s never a moment You don’t give it.
You are the gospel, the best news I’ve ever known.

* * *

When do you need the gospel?

More on Chapter 3, “Preach the Gospel to Yourself” at Challies.

Thoughts from
Chapter One, “How Good Is Good Enough?”
Chapter Two, “The Pharisee and the Tax Collector”
Next Week, Chapter Four, “We Died to Sin”
All chapter summaries

Comments (19)

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@FC_Melissa · 659 weeks ago

Amen, Lisa. I love the way you demonstrated that we need the gospel not only in the "big picture," but every minute of every day. So true.
My recent post A Letter to God #faithjam

1 reply · active 659 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 659 weeks ago

Thanks, Melissa. Those tons of little things can get me down, so I know I definitely need his help there too.
My recent post Dear God, I still need the gospel

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Katie · 659 weeks ago

All the time. Love this today Lisa. Your blog always encourages me so much.
My recent post Darkness into Light

1 reply · active 659 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 659 weeks ago

Praying extra measures of grace for you as you continue to seek rest in him, Katie. Your perseverance encourages me.
My recent post Dear God, I still need the gospel

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theoldadam 25p · 659 weeks ago

Great post!

Yes, we need to have that gospel Word done to us...all the time...all throughout our lives...because we are like sheep and make a habit of regularly wandering off. :D

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nikolehahn 45p · 659 weeks ago

I need the Gospel every day. It chases away the ghosts and is like a fresh brewed cup of coffee on a rainy morning.

1 reply · active 659 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 659 weeks ago

Beautiful imagery, Nikki. And I can almost smell the coffee (even though I don't drink it, I love the aroma). :-)
My recent post Dear God, I still need the gospel

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panda444 30p · 659 weeks ago

Oh yes Lisa. Praise Him for His grace. I'm so thankful I am saved from hell. But in the meantime we need Him moment by moment to live this life in the here and now. Praise Him for His Spirit and that we can learn to abide in Him.

blessings and love,
Debbie
My recent post My Letter to God

1 reply · active 659 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 659 weeks ago

Many reasons to praise, yes, Debbie. It overwhelms me when I really sit and think about all the ways he blesses me in a single day with his grace. You are one of those ways. Thank you, friend.
My recent post Dear God, I still need the gospel

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Caroline · 659 weeks ago

Lisa, every time I read something you write, I find myself saying "yes! That's it!" to *at least* two lines.

In this post, it's: "I need Christ’s obedience, Christ’s righteousness, and Christ’s love.

At the cross, Jesus became grace, and grace is the gospel.
If discipline is good, grace is better. Because Jesus is best."

Thank you. And thanking Him.
My recent post Help Me See

1 reply · active 659 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 659 weeks ago

That's how I feel when I read your stuff too, Caroline. Sisters of different mothers, same Father. :-) Thanking Him with you.
My recent post Why I want to memorize 1 Peter 1

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bethinnc 11p · 659 weeks ago

Oh LIsa, I need the gospel every second of my life too! Yes, it is still the good news and that will never change. What a wonderful Father we have to give us His Living Word - Jesus, and His living written word -- Bible. We are blessed!

Love in Him,
Beth

1 reply · active 659 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 659 weeks ago

Yes, Beth, he Living Word and words--I join you in praising him for his gifts. Definitely blessed!
My recent post Why I want to memorize 1 Peter 1

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barbarah 65p · 659 weeks ago

Yes, I need the gospel every moment. These truths were not new to me, but the discipline side has been emphasized more in my past. As you said, discipline is needed, it is beneficial, it is even a grace, but we'll never be perfectly disciplined, and we have to remember that even if we were, that doesn't keep us saved -- only grace does.

I remember some years back my former pastor mentioning that Paul's epistles were "sandwiched" in grace -- with everything else Paul had to deal with the churches about, almost every epistle begins and ends with grace. That was SUCH a relief and blessing!
My recent post “Preaching the Gospel to Yourself”

1 reply · active 659 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 659 weeks ago

"Only grace" keeps us saved. Amen. That's the truth I have to tell myself often because it's too easy for me to slip back into thinking it's something that *I* have to do. Crazy notion, but a familiar one, unfortunately.

Sandwiched in grace; nice imagery. :)
My recent post Why I want to memorize 1 Peter 1

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fsamons 60p · 659 weeks ago

Grace, the unmerited favor of our Father. The greatest form of love... in action. I'm with you, thanks for the reminder.
My recent post STICKS AND STONES

1 reply · active 659 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 659 weeks ago

Love in action...a great way to picture grace. Thanks, Floyd.
My recent post Why I want to memorize 1 Peter 1

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Faith Barista Bonnie · 659 weeks ago

"I need grace not just for my past or future, but now.
There’s never a moment I don’t need it."
I feel the same way, Lisa. Many times, I find it easier to think of grace about my past and even easier to think of grace for my future. But, to think of asking and experiencing grace now? This is the voice of Jesus I'm hearing in your letter -- in your post. Thank you for sharing this letter in the now. So, so grateful you are here with us this way. Feel so close to His heart through yours.
My recent post Say My Name: My Letter To God

1 reply · active 658 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 658 weeks ago

Grace in this moment...yes, that may be the most challenging for us. I appreciate that you are pushing through your struggles to find grace. You encourage all of us to rely more on Jesus for our strength.
My recent post What’s on your nightstand? Aug ‘12

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