Mighty To Save
Day 6 – Mighty to Save
Read Isaiah 63:1; Psalm 31:1-8; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
One of the all-time favorite worship songs throughout the short history of Journey Church is “Mighty to Save” by Hillsong. Taken from passages like Isaiah 63:1, and many of the Psalms, the song tells of the mighty power of the cross and the power of Christ to break the chains of sin and bring us salvation.
It’s a powerful thought, a thought to which we must never become numb. The message of the cross should never become dull, trite, or mundane even to the most seasoned believer. What a scathing reminder to me! It’s easy to get caught up in the routine of Christianity even to the point that we hold, as C.J. Mahaney said it, “…a preoccupation with (our) own personal godliness.” That’s not to say that we should never be concerned with personal holiness and godliness. Not at all. But it must never be pursued “apart from joyful gratitude for the cross” (C. J. Mahaney, The Cross Centered Life, Multnomah Books, 2002, p. 106).
The gospel message is perpetual, and it must be daily resuscitated in our hearts as we meditate on the mighty power of God to save us. Jerry Bridges describes this daily reminder as “preaching the Gospel to yourself everyday” (Jerry Bridges, The Discipline of Grace, NavPress, 1994). It’s the most important message in the entire world. And it’s a message that we must constantly keep before us, allowing the Spirit of God to remind us continually of the finished work of Christ on the cross. An attitude of gratefulness for Christ’s work of salvation should characterize our lives.
In Morning and Evening, Spurgeon says concerning God’s power to save and the perpetual nature of the gospel:
“The divine power is equally seen in the after-work (of salvation). The life of a believer is a series of miracles wrought by ‘the Mighty God.’… Does your own case trouble you? Fear not, for His strength is sufficient for you. Whether to begin with others, or to carry on the work in you, Jesus is ‘mighty to save;’ the best proof of which lies in the fact that He has saved you” (Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening, January 14).
I love that last phrase. We are the proof of God’s power to save. So, look in the mirror every morning and praise God for His power to save.
Challenge Questions:
● Has the message of salvation become dull for you?
● How have you or how will you begin “preaching the Gospel to yourself everyday?”
● C. J. Mahaney in The Cross Centered Life, suggests several ways of maintaining a cross-centered focus:
a Memorize the Gospel – Memorize key verses and passages of Scripture such as 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 8:31-34, Isaiah 53:3-6, Romans 3:23-26, Romans 5:6-11, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, and Galatians 2:21.
b Pray the Gospel – He says, “To pray the gospel, simply begin by thanking God for the forgiveness of sins, purchased through the death of His Son. Acknowledge that Christ’s work on the cross is what makes prayer possible” (p. 137).
c Study the Gospel – Never be content with your grasp or understanding of what Christ has done for you. Be a student of the Word. Listen to audio podcasts or sermons on your commute. Read theology books and books about the cross.
● When was the last time you praised God for saving you? Take some time right now and thank Him for rescuing you out of darkness and bringing you salvation.