The Gospel in a Nutshell

This small portion of scripture explains the hope we have in Christ, succinctly and without any ado. Share it with someone new to the faith or someone seeking to understand what Christians believe. I like to keep this one near my phone to remind newer believers who may be struggling to feel "good enough" to deserve God's goodness. It's a great reminder that we never have to try and be anything we're not, including "good enough." Salvation is a gift, pure and simple.

"He saved us, but not because of anything we had done to gain his approval. Instead, because of his mercy he saved us through the washing in which the Holy Spirit gives us new birth and renewal. God poured a generous amount of the Spirit on us through Jesus Christ our Savior. As a result, God in his kindness has given us his approval and we have become heirs who have the confidence that we have everlasting life.

Titus 3:5-7

What about you? Do you have a favorite portion of scripture that gives the gospel in a nutshell? (Besides John 3:16, that is!)

Sometimes, just hearing the truth worded a little differently from that which we're most familiar with gives us a new opportunity to digest it more deeply or in a new way. And we can never tell ourselves the gospel too often.

Warmest blessings,

Linore

FOLLOWING THE CALL

Musings on Matthew 4:18

It must be significant that the first four disciples that Jesus called to follow Him were fishermen. The symbolism is telling, and the famous line, "Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men," was uniquely applicable to them. What a simple way to voice the vast change from being typical fishermen to incredible, supernatural disciples; men who would soon take hold of eternal truths from that time forward, and cast them out, catching men in the process, and saving souls from hell!

Think about what Jesus did when He called them: He took these blue-collar workers and transformed them

From FISHERMEN to FISHERS OF MEN,
From LOWLY occupation to DIVINE occupation,
From COMMONALITY to ROYALTY (sons of God)
From INSIGNIFICANCE to ETERNAL SIGNIFICANCE
From TIMIDITY to BOLDNESS
From POWERLESSNESS TO (Supernatural) POWER
From IGNORANCE to KNOWLEDGE
From DARKNESS to LIGHT

The same calling is for each of us, today. The Lord may not require all of us to drop our nets, but He does call us to follow Him. Each of us must discover the ways He wants to make us fishers of men. And ladies, raising children is to do so, by raising them in the "nurture and admonition" of the Lord. Don't drop that net!

For some, following Him will mean that their nets must be abandoned, and so be it.
His calling is higher.

Others of us will remain in our occupations as we serve Him; but we must find a way to serve in the midst of it: To be about the Father's business, not just our own.

A holy, high calling demands it.
It is this calling which, more than anything else life can offer, uplifts us into the transformations that the early disciples underwent, and which we, too, like every disciple, can enjoy.
From being a fisherman to being a fisher OF men.

When I write my novels, I keep in mind that the writing is not just for enjoyment or entertainment, but it is part of my "net." Part of the manner of calling God has given me, to fish for men for Him.

So--how's your fishing, lately?