Aldrich: the Gospel solution

Sunday, November 10, 2024
    Feast of Leo the Great, Bishop of Rome, 461
Meditation:
    The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’S favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.
    —Isaiah 61:1-3 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Christians need to think through what the gospel can mean to a searching heart. Besides deliverance from a literal hell, it may put an unbeliever’s marriage back together, it may end his overpowering guilt, it may free him from a burdensome habit, it may bring peace, it may bring financial stability, it may solve many of his interpersonal problems, it may be the key to coping with illness, it may be the solution to a tragedy or some great loss, it may be the key to resources for living. Possibly it will be all of the above. That’s good news! Every basic human need or motive is matched by some facet of the gospel.
    ... Joseph C. Aldrich (1941-2009), Lifestyle Evangelism, Multnomah Press, 1981, p. 89 (see the book)
    See also Isa. 61:1-3; Hos. 2:23; Matt. 4:23; 5:3-12; Rom. 6:16-17,20-22; 1 Cor. 6:9-11; 2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 1:13-14; 2:1-3; 4:22-24; Heb. 4:16; Jas. 1:27; 1 Pet. 2:10
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, enlarge my heart, so that I might extend the good news to more of your people. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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