Increasing in the Gospel

Do you ever forget sometimes? I don't mean forget, as in you have no memory of it happening. I just mean forget as in you don't really think about it. The reason I ask is because I think that is what happens to us in regards to the Gospel.

I just got done reading through Colossians and I simply cannot get over something that I read in the first chapter. Paul is talking to this church and he says that his prayer is for the Gospel to increase in them. That's kind of wild to me when I really stop and think about it. What in the world does that even mean?

Well, let's break it down. If you don't know the Gospel, here it is: our perfect and holy God knew that there was no way for us to have a right relationship with Him and make it to heaven on our own. Because of that, He sent His perfect Son to die on the cross and rise from the dead as the sacrifice for our sins. All we have to do is place our faith in Him and we are able to be right with God! Honestly, how exciting is that?!

So now we know the Gospel. But what the heck does it mean for that to increase in us?

First of all, I think that it means we have to remember it. Every day. I'm ashamed to say that sometimes there are days where I don't think once about what Jesus did for me on the cross. If I want the Gospel to increase in me, I have to be constantly reminding myself of it.

Second, as I remember the Gospel, I will naturally become excited about it! I was saved from a path headed straight to hell. The more I remember the Gospel, the more I will be filled with joy by what it has done in my life.

Lastly, as I get excited about the Gospel, that will overflow out of my life onto the lives of others. Imagine a world where every believer you knew was so excited about what Jesus did for them that it pours out of them onto every person they encounter. How amazing would that be? How different would our neighborhoods, workplaces, etc. look?

As we have established what "increasing in the Gospel" looks like, let me leave you with this question: What would your life look like if the Gospel was truly and consistently increasing in you?

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