Dear church,

It is one thing to receive the gospel. It is another thing to do the work of the gospel. The latter is work that was specially marked out by God from the very beginning. “And with you bring your brothers also …” There were those in the kingdom who did the work of ministry, the sacred work of the gospel.

Today, every disciple is called to do the work of the gospel (Matthew 28:18-20). It is not reserved only for holy men. We all have been made holy by the blood of Christ. And the holy now is within the reach of anyone who accepts the sacrifice of Christ on the cross (Matthew 27:51).

The question we must ask ourselves is whether we only have received the gospel or whether we are doing the actual work of the gospel in the church and the world. 

We have not been sanctified only for the benefit of ourselves (Hebrews 10:10). There is more to do. If I look at my life and cannot see how it is taking the good news of Jesus into the world, then I am not living the life of a disciple. 

We aren’t guarding the holy things any longer, protecting the camp from harm. We are drawing people to the Holy One, to the Son of God himself. Or better yet, we are taking the Son of God living in us to a world that desperately needs him. 

Is your life marked in some way by the work of the gospel? 

Chris