It’s a “will worship” morning (Colossians 2:23).

My Shepherd met me foraging about in His green pastures, nibbling here and there, and directed my thoughts to “the gospel.” The Mind of the Spirit alerted the spirit of my mind to an insight in 1 Peter 1:25:

1 Peter 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

The “Word of the Lord” references all God has said to us through the Scripture of Truth (Daniel 10:21; John 17:17). This “word of the Lord” is preached to us by the gospel. The Gospel is the summation of the entire body of Divine Revelation, and preaching any part of the Bible involves preaching “the gospel.” “The Gospel” is the sum of the Bible.

Along the still waters, I reflected on something the Spirit has taken great pains to press into my mind and heart: “the gospel” cannot be separated from the context of the whole of God’s revelation. Peter, by the Spirit, tells us the “word of the Lord endureth for ever,” and that this word of the Lord is “the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” You can’t “preach the word” without preaching the gospel, and you can’t preach the gospel without preaching the word. Preaching the word is preaching the gospel, and preaching the gospel is preaching the word.

This means that the gospel defined in 1 Corinthians 15:1-3 is the sum total of all that the word of God reveals, and that if any part of the word of God is removed, the sum changes. To simplify it, in the equation 2+2=4, 4 is the gospel, and the two 2s are the elements that make up the sum. The 2+2 represents all the elements of revelation. Remove one of the 2s, and you change the sum. Remove any word from the Word of God, and the sum will be altered.

In the Valley, for us shadowed by the Cross, I worshipped the king as I understood the word of our Lord is summarized in our lives when we embody the gospel: “if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

At the table, my Shepherd adjusted the cross to my back and inspected my gear: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, my gospel shoes, the shield of faith. He poured His oil on my head and set the helmet of salvation upon it. He filled my cup with His grace, and said, “Take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” and follow Me, praying always! Let’s go (Matthew 28:19).

Praying for revival! 🙏

(There is no livestream for Sunday devotions.)