What if we have heard a different gospel for so long we believe the gospel we are hearing is the gospel of Jesus Christ? We hear the word the gospel and assume it only means, the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, but it is not just that, it is also the preaching and living out of the character of Christ not just the work He did on the cross for our salvation. Hear me out for a minute.

Christians are challenging, not because we are not saved and “going to heaven” but because we are easily offended, slow to forgive, quick to give others the silent treatment, inconsistent givers, titles driven, and wanting to be entertained not to serve. Okay, I could go on, but I am going to stop there. In one word, Christians are judgemental in the way they treat others but crying, “Don’t judge me!” Friends, I am seeing so much flesh in people that call themselves Christians. Yes we are sinners saved by grace, but we are also called to display the glory of God in the land of the living, by being image bearers of the One we claim lives inside of us.

I love how we go to DC to repent for our nations sins, but they are usually for some behavioral sin that “unbelievers” are committing like abortion. However, 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If My people, who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray….” This is a personal prayer closet call, not a national day of repentance for some behavior we think America has done to make God mad and judge us. Friends, we are the light of the world that is dirty so people can’t see it. We are the salt of the earth losing our saltiness so people can’t taste it.

We need a personal revival in our prayer closet for the character of Christians is little to be desired. James 2:13 says, “For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.” We must stop preaching, listening to and echoing the gospel of judgment and get in our prayer closet, remember he who has been forgiven much loves much, ask the Lord to forgive us for being a brat and get our character aligned with Christ, for there is a lot of work to do, but it will take humility personally to lay down our lives for our friends. Mercy is being poured out in a way we cannot see for we have believed the gospel of judgment and we must repent personally. This is good news if you can hear it!