This week in our community group we read Psalm 8, which is a celebration and declaration of God's power, authority and majesty.

Then we discussed how and why the power of the gospel, if true, changes everything about how we live life.

Psalm 8:1 English Standard Version (ESV)

How Majestic Is Your Name

8 O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
you have established strength because of your foes,
to still the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?
5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings[b]
and crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under his feet,
7 all sheep and oxen,
and also the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
9 O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

In Psalms 8 we see a celebration of God's glory and power, therefore we took time to share our weekly praise and prayers to remind ourselves that God over all the greatest joys and standing with us amid the worse tragedies.

Source

How does the Gospel transform our lives?

And then we discussed what it would mean for our lives if we truly understood the gospel.

If we we shaken by our sin, and God's infinite mercy and grace, how might our actions, choices and words be different? In other words, how does the true Gospel transform us?

At this point we read and unpacked three related scriptures:

All of which outline and encourage confidence in God's Word, for out of God's Word flow all power, salvation, faith and life. Moreover in Daniel we see the power and confidence of God's Spirit at work in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who answer king Nebuchadnezzar with defiance: "...we will not serve your gods..."

We talked about the reassurance and confidence the Gospel offers believers. We talked about the power and glory the Gospel places upon God, and wretchedness of us apart from Him.

That, God surrendered everything for our salvation, despite our poverty, is a poignant reminder of His love, goodness, faithfulness, patience, kindness, and holiness.

Romans 5:8 English Standard Version (ESV)

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

In short, to live life impacted by the depth of the Gospel is to:

Recognize our depravity and destitution due to sin,
be overwhelmed by His love, mercy and grace, which He inexplicably and miraculously offers freely,
and then reconciling these truths, that we might move forward living in complete confidence, and trans-formative assurance, that God is good, God is for us, and God has made a way for our salvation by His power and love: Not because of us, but despite us.

It strikes me as being of paramount importance that we start out of a position of humble acknowledgement of our sin, and failure. Why? God's greatness and goodness are most stark when contrasted with the depth of our brokenness.

2 Corinthians 12:9 English Standard Version (ESV)

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

My Prayers:

Lord may we be transformed and conformed to the image of Christ by the power of your Truth, Word, and Power. May we stand faithfully in your love, understanding that You who have sacrificed Christ for us, will not now forsake us. On the contrary, it is by Christ's sacrifice that we forever know... It is Finished.