“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24

The bible is not a resource manual for self-Improvement; it is a story of crucifixion. The gospel is a non-gentle jolt to self-dependence and self-absorption. It is a violent affront to a hell-bent agenda; it is death to the lie that you can be your own savior and owner. The gospel speaks peace to our souls through death to our godhood. The gospel is an external word. It stands totally independent of me. Last week I mentioned we are like elbow macaroni, God working in and through us as His tools. Redirecting us. We should be like sponges, soaking up gospel truth. Whatever is in closest contact with will be what we are saturated with, what will soak in and flavor us. We should be always marinating in the gospel. Taking on its full flavors, being taken over by its influence. We are like spiritual Sham-wows. We soak up whatever is near to us.