Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel. Philippians 1:27
Dear Lord Jesus, write this truth upon my heart in bold neon-gas-filled flashing letters. Like an airplane pulling an advertising banner along the coast, do a fly-by before my eyes several times a day reminding me that all of life is to be lived in a manner worthy of the gospel… consistent with its truth… drawing upon its resources… as a revelation of its beauty.
First of all, I praise you today for the worthiness of the gospel. If an appraiser was called in to determine the value of the gospel, what possible conclusion would she reach? Jesus, how does one describe the worth of unsearchable riches? In the gospel, you’ve given us the assurance of total forgiveness and the covering of your perfect righteousness. We’re fully and eternally accepted by God, based on what you’ve done for us… through your life, death and resurrection. But we’re not just legally accepted, we’re adopted as his beloved children—cherished, nourished and promised a future which is beyond the limits of our imagination.
Through the gospel we’re becoming more and more like you, Jesus. The gospel’s not just about how we enter God’s family, it’s our total family life. Indeed, only by your mercy and grace… only by living in union with you do we have any hope of actually changing. And help us to never forget, Jesus, that we’re presently loved by God, not on the basis of how much we’ve changed, but on the basis of how much you’ve accomplished for us… and who we are in you… and who you are in us. Unsearchable, immeasurable, inexhaustible riches indeed!
As though that was not enough… by the gospel, you are making all things new, Jesus. This worthy gospel is not just a story of personal redemption, but also of cosmic renewal and transformation. One Day, we won’t just be perfectly like you, but we will also live in the perfected world called the new heaven and new earth—this very earth, freed from decay and brought into the eternal newness of the gospel (Romans 8:18-25).
Jesus, in light of this worthy gospel, transform our worshipping… deepen our caring… focus our serving… renew our thinking… clarify our seeing… empower our loving… determine our choosing… quicken our repenting… and expand our giving. May the gospel be the great conductor—leading and changing us, until the Day you return to finish making all things new. So very Amen, we pray, in your hyper-worthy name.