This morning during my quiet time, I read 2 Timothy 2:8
“Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David, this is my gospel…“
The word ‘my’ jumped out at me. Paul was writing to Timothy about ‘his’ gospel – a very personal gospel. Paul embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ – Jesus’ life, death and resurrection – as his own. It’s because Paul personalized the gospel that he could refer to it as ‘his’ gospel. That is behind the power and strength that Paul had to endure the sufferings that he was faced with – beatings, constant ridicule and even imprisonment.
This verse was a reminder to me that God wants the gospel of Jesus Christ, his Son, to be my gospel too. God wants to be our personal God. Read these few scriptures where the authors writes about their personal God:
“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Paul in Philippians 4:19
“The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.” Moses in Exodus 15:2
“my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior– from violent men you save me.” Samuel in 2 Samuel 22:3
“My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” Jesus in Matthew 27:46
How about you? Is the gospel of Jesus something ‘out there’ for you, something distant, some concept you’ve read about and know of? Or, do you look at and embrace the gospel of Jesus as ‘my gospel?’
When we personalize the gospel, and it hits home to us in our mind and in our heart and deep in our spirit and soul, it’s more likely that the power and love and grace of the gospel will be manifested in our life? It’s more likely that there will be more fruit in our life, and that we will experience a more abundant life. And, a healthier life may just be one of the by products.
That’s what I want. How about you?
God is my God. Jesus is my King. The Gospel is my Gospel.