I value the gospel. I value the good news.
It is natural and necessary when living in community and living on a team to understand and discover what your values are. Values are words that encompass what behaviors and intentions are important to us. Values for me determine ways that I can be honored by others and how I can honor them. When someone speaks out what their values are, I intentionally place that value on my heart when I am “doing life” with said person.
It may sound a little silly at first, but I value other’s values. Give me a second to explain…
I am currently in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia with a team of World Racers. I have spent the last week doing what I love to do most, watching and encouraging others to seek out the Lord in their everyday, all while growing into who He has already created them to be. If I’m being honest, and a little off topic, I have felt more like I am following the purpose that God has for me and my life the last 3 weeks than I did my entire race.
I’ve also learned what I value most. The gospel.
The gospel currently to me means this :
- There is brokenness in this world, in short, because of sin
- There was never MEANT to be brokenness in this world, but the Lord had a plan
- The plan we all SAW AND SEE : Jesus’ death at the cross and resurrection meaning the coverage of our sins in His blood
- The plan pt 2 : US TAKING OWNERSHIP of the grace we were given, through faithfully and CONTINUALLY being in relationship with the Lord (and yes, a piece of this is accepting Christ as our savior)
- BECAUSE of 1-4, we GET to walk in freedom and understanding of ONE ANOTHER’S brokenness, and we GET to share that with the WORLD
So.. Back to the whole “I value other’s values” thing.
How did I discover this? Well, this morning we walked through our devotional together, and were asked “How firm is your grasp on the gospel?” After explaining my self understanding and walking through the above Steps 1-5 verbally to the women around me, I couldn’t help but think…
Nothing else matters. I mean in reality of course other things matter because we’re humans so, yes, to those who will challenge this statement, sure fine other things matter.
But really? Can I challenge YOUR perspective? Does anything else matter? Because if we all had an understanding of the gospel, and we all took action in our lives to live like we actually believe the gospel and understand what it says to us and what that means for the way we treat others… aren’t we already taking care of the other things that “matter”.
So I value what other’s value. Because in doing this, I’m valuing the gospel. The gospel that says there was and is brokenness, and no, it does not all show itself as the same outward reaction, trigger, etc. But it does all get redeemed by the same Lord, the same Abba, the same Yahweh, the same Father.
So I value the gospel. I value what the gospel means to other people. And I want to challenge you this week to discover what the gospel means to you. And ask the Lord what it looks like to value other’s values.
Love, Nicole Amy
