"Our ancestors in Egypt
were not impressed by the LORD's miraculous deeds.
They soon forgot his many acts of kindness to them.
Instead, they rebelled against him at the Red Sea.
Even so, he saved them--
to defend the honor of his name
and to demonstrate his mighty power."
Psalm 106:7-8 NLT
Yet. This one word is a beautiful symbol of the Gospel story. I am a hopeless sinner, yet He loves me enough to send His son to die in order to redeem me (Romans 5:8). I am unfaithful, yet He is faithful. I forget Him and His desires for me, yet He remembers His promises.
This is the Gospel of yet.
Wickedness. I live for me. I am bent on doing things my way, following the destructive route, finding out the hard way. My heart is blackened, corrupted by sin (Psalm 51:5, Romans 3:10-18). I can't always do the right thing, even when I try. I am selfish to the core.
Still, Jesus came to earth as a man, giving Himself as the perfect sin offering, the One who has no sin became sin for me (2 Corinthians 5:21). Why would He do such a thing? Who dies for his enemy, for the one who betrays him by her lifestyle, her attitude, her unbelief (Romans 5:6)? Jesus does. Out of His great love, He made the ultimate sacrifice, paid the steepest of prices, committed the unthinkable act. He took my place, my rightful position on the cross and died the death that was meant for me so that I could live the life He intended for me to live.
The Gospel of yet gives every hopeless sinner the hope of an abundant, eternal life through faith in Christ.
Doubt. I doubt His power. I see the problems rearing up their ugly heads, looming over me like an overwhelming Godzilla and I can't take my eyes off them. Meanwhile, God is beside me, waiting to do what He does best; fight my battles, give me peace in the midst of it, and empower me to live out my faith. I doubt, wondering what can be done to help me.
Still, God uses His sovereign power on my behalf. My unbelief doesn't diminish His ability to do what needs to be done to rescue me, to help me, to comfort me. For His namesake, since I belong to Him and have claimed His name as my own, as my family name, He will take care of me as my Father. Then, all the world will know that He is God and give praise to Him for what He does in my life (Exodus 14:30-31, Isaiah 37:20). And my faith in Him grows while I become a walking testimony to Christ.
The Gospel of yet shows God's faithfulness to even His doubting people for His namesake.
Memory Loss. I forget. I have seen the might of His hand in many ways. I have experienced multiple examples of His love for me. Even so, I tend to forget the committment I made to Christ as I try to live as if He didn't die for me. I take sin lightly, allowing it in and corrupting my mind with the ways of the world (Romans 12:2, Ephesians 5:3) I forget I am set aside for His purposes, living instead according to my fleshly desires (Philippians 4:8-9).
Still, He remembers His promise to me. He does not forget I am His daughter by faith in Jesus. He doesn't disown me because of my faithlessness. No matter how many times I turn away from Him, He doesn't leave me nor forsake me. It is His desire that I walk in His Spirit, becoming a slave to righteousness, but my own failures do not void His promise to redeem me (Galatians 5:16, Romans 6:19).
The Gospel of yet demonstrates the strength of God's promises that will never be broken.
It is clear that I am unworthy, incapable of sinlessness, 100% infallible faith, and perfect memory, thus demonstrating my need for the Gospel of yet. I desperately need a Savior who came to die for me while I'm in my sinful state, to be faithful even when I doubt, and to exhibit a constant dedication to His memory despite the fact that I forget. This is the Gospel of yet. This is the Good News of Jesus Christ!
As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to give my life to Him through faith in Jesus Christ.
When do I tend to doubt God's ability to save me?
How am I forgetful of God's desire for me to live purely?
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