Gospeling Ourselves: An Invitation For All
An Invitation Too Glorious to Pass Up!
In the second-to-last year of my M.Div. program at Corban, we had a new advisor. I can be a bit skeptical by nature, so when a tall, lanky guy with a tiny man bun—fresh off three years in Papua New Guinea—walked into my life and began challenging every presupposition I held, you could say I wasn’t exactly thrilled.
What he challenged most, though, was my understanding of my need for the gospel.
In my mind, I thought, “Well, of course I need it. I wouldn’t be here without it. It saved my life.”
But his point was simple and profound: the gospel can’t just be something that saved my life; it must be something that saves my life—every day, every hour, every minute, every second.
Nothing I do should be apart from the power of the gospel sustaining it.
That man—who went from “the guy with the man bun” to one of the most influential servants of Christ in my life—was Dr. Jordan Newton. Through his wisdom, I came to realize that I need Jesus daily, not just in a past-tense way of justification, but as a present and ongoing source of grace.
Now, I don’t share this story because I hope to become the most influential voice in your life. I share it because I hope you accept the same invitation I did—an invitation too glorious to pass up.
My prayer is that you would realize how deeply you need the gospel every single day. That if you could do only one thing for the rest of your life, it would be to marvel at the gospel—to do what Jordan called, “Gospel Yourself.”
So, while I’m on paternity leave over the next few weeks, I invite you to walk through this devotional. Each week focuses on a different way of “gospeling yourself,” followed by daily reflection questions to help you remember the gospel in every part of your life.
Week 1 (11/9-15): Gaze Upon the Beauty of the Lord
Scriptures: Isaiah 40; Ephesians 1; Psalm 27:4
When was the last time you stopped long enough to simply behold God’s beauty—not asking Him for anything, but worshiping Him for who He is?
The starting point of all worship is beholding—not doing, not fixing, but gazing upon the beauty of the Lord. Isaiah calls us to lift our eyes and see the greatness of our God. Paul reminds us that before the foundation of the world, we were chosen in Christ. When we slow down long enough to behold His beauty, we find peace and perspective that only come from knowing Him.
I recently told some students that my hope for them is this: that the name of Jesus would stir a sense of awe and excitement in their hearts. One student responded by talking about cars. I was confused until he said, “Cars excite me. The rev of the engine—that’s exciting. I hope to be even more excited about Jesus.” He got it.
Would we think of what excites us most and let it pale in comparison to the joy of gazing upon the beauty of Jesus?
Daily Reflection Questions:
Monday: Where do I see the beauty and creativity of God most clearly right now?
Tuesday: How does Isaiah 40 expand my view of God’s greatness and power?
Wednesday: How does being “chosen before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4) shape my confidence and worth?
Thursday: What distracts me most from simply being present with God?
Friday: How can I intentionally create space this weekend to “gaze upon the beauty of the Lord”?
Week 2 (11/16-22): Remember Your Identity In Christ
Scriptures: Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 2:8–10; 1 Peter 2:9–10
In Christ, your identity isn’t something you achieve, it’s something you receive.
You are a child of God, a new creation, and a vessel of grace. When we forget who we are, we start living for approval rather than from approval. The gospel roots us in belonging before we ever begin doing.
I ran competitively for ten years. During that time, I constantly tied my identity to my performance. If I ran well, I felt worthy. If I failed, I felt like a failure. But that’s the lie the enemy loves to whisper—that what we do determines who we are.
Only the gospel sets us free from that burden. Your worth isn’t defined by your past, your performance, or your potential—it’s defined by a Person: Jesus Christ.
Daily Reflection Questions:
Monday: What labels or lies have I believed that don’t align with who I am in Christ?
Tuesday: What does it mean to live as someone “crucified with Christ” and alive in Him (Gal. 2:20)?
Wednesday: How does being God’s workmanship (Eph. 2:10) influence how I see my purpose?
Thursday: When am I most tempted to find my worth in success or approval?
Friday: What truth about my identity in Christ do I most need to remember today?
Week 3 (11/23-29): Thank God For The Gospel
Scriptures: Romans 5:6–11; Titus 3:4–7; 2 Corinthians 5:16–21
As we celebrate Thanksgiving this week, I can’t think of a better spiritual practice to focus on than the discipline of gratitude. Gratitude in the gospel flows from realizing both what we’ve been saved from and what we’ve been saved for.
The gospel humbles us and lifts us up at the same time. We were sinners in need of a Savior, and Jesus met us right there. We could never earn His love, yet He freely gave it. Our works will never be enough, yet Christ’s work on the cross is more than enough.
Gratitude reawakens wonder. It shifts our hearts from what we lack to the abundance we already have in Christ.
So today, let your prayer be simple:
“Lord, You are perfect, and I am not.
Thank You that I don’t need to be.
Thank You that I have victory through Your resurrection.”
Let your gratitude renew your wonder in the gospel.
Daily Reflection Questions:
Monday: What does Romans 5:8 reveal about God’s love for me at my lowest point?
Tuesday: What part of my story am I most thankful God has redeemed?
Wednesday: Where have I been tempted to earn God’s favor instead of resting in grace?
Thursday (Happy Thanksgiving!): Who can I express thankfulness to today as a reflection of my gratitude to God?
Friday: How does gratitude reshape my attitude when I drift toward guilt or self-reliance?
Week 4 (11/30-12/6): Rest in the Lord
Scriptures: Matthew 11:28–30; Psalm 46:10; Philippians 4:6–7
This summer, I wrestled a lot—not literally (though that would’ve been a sight), but spiritually. Every morning I’d read Scripture and a chapter from Gentle and Lowly, a book about Christ’s heart for sinners and sufferers.
Learning to rest in the Lord taught me that rest isn’t disobedience; it’s dependence. Resting in the Lord means acknowledging our need for Him. It’s letting go of control and allowing Jesus to be the hero of our story.
The gospel invites us to stop striving. Rest doesn’t mean inactivity, it means trust.
So take a deep breath. Pray simply:
“Lord, I seek Your face. Quiet my heart so I may hear Your voice.”
Daily Reflection Questions:
Monday: What keeps me from resting (busyness, guilt, distraction, unbelief, etc.)?
Tuesday: How does Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 11 challenge my pace of life?
Wednesday: What does it look like to “be still and know” that God is God today?
Thursday: Where do I need to let Christ’s peace guard my thoughts and emotions?
Friday: What control do I need to surrender to God this weekend?
Week 5 (12/7-13): Act Through the Lens of the Gospel
Scriptures: Colossians 3:12–17; James 1:22–25; Romans 12:1–2
By now, as Christmas approaches, we’ve spent weeks gazing at, remembering, thanking for, and resting in the gospel. But the gospel doesn’t stop there—it moves us to action.
One of my favorite Christmas songs is “Welcome to Our World” by Michael W. Smith. Every time I hear it, I’m reminded of the humility of Jesus—the God of the Universe who came as a servant. In just three minutes, that song stirs up every part of what we’ve covered in this series. It makes me reflect on this question: What will I do with this good news?
The gospel transforms not just our hearts but our habits. Everything we do—how we speak, serve, love, and forgive—is an opportunity to reflect the grace we’ve received.
Let your actions flow not from guilt but from gratitude; not from pressure, but from peace.
Daily Reflection Questions:
Monday: What area of my life most needs to be reshaped by the gospel right now?
Tuesday: How can I embody the compassion, kindness, and humility of Christ today (Col. 3:12)?
Wednesday: What’s one small step of obedience I can take this week?
Thursday: How can my words or actions point others to grace today?
Friday: When people see my life, do they see someone transformed by the gospel?
Will You Accept The Invitation?
Whether you’ve journeyed through each week of this devotional or simply paused to ponder one question, the invitation remains the same: Will you accept the greatest invitation Jesus offers—to remember the great salvation He gives every single day?
The gospel isn’t a one-time event in our past; it’s a daily reality that shapes every step forward. Salvation isn’t something we once received, it’s something we continue to live in because our God still goes with us.
We don’t serve a past-tense God; we serve the God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). And if that’s true of Him, it’s true of His salvation too: unchanging, ever-present, and continually offered to you.
So today, will you say yes to that invitation again? To be set free from sin, to walk in grace, and to live in daily relationship with the God of the universe—the One who is still running after you.