Walking in His Story: Living Out the Gospel Every Day
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”—Ephesians 2:4-7 (ESV)
“From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”—2 Cor. 5:16-17 (ESV)
[This blog series is a reflection on some of the themes I have written on this blog.]
In my last reflection, I shared about the importance of rooting ourselves in God’s Story. This is what sets us apart as believers—living for someone other than ourselves.
Some may see this as simply living for a “higher purpose,” but as followers of Christ, we recognize that we are not the center of this Story—God is. As the Creator, He has designed us to find our greatest satisfaction in Him alone. Yet because sin entered the world, we can never find that satisfaction apart from Him. We may try, but we will always fall short.
Sin is not an easy topic to talk about in our culture. But avoiding it does us a disservice. My goal in this post is not to gloss over it, but to point us toward hope in the Gospel.
Recognizing a Need for the Gospel
I am not immune to sin. In my post “Not a Good Girl”, I reflect on how even when I do the right things, I can do them for the wrong reasons. The Bible makes it clear that anything not done by faith does not please God. My good deeds may fool others, but God sees the heart.
This is exactly why Christ came to earth in human form. His love reached me at the heart level, not just as intellectual assent, beginning when I was in college. Over the years, I continue to be amazed at His persistent, unfailing love, even when I fail. As I share in Jesus Loves Me, This I Know, I cannot earn His love—it is freely given.
Turning Toward God’s Story of Redemption
It is not fear of hell, nor attempts to prove my worth, that motivate me—it is love for the God who wrote my story. This love guides me to turn my feet toward His ways rather than my own. Every day is an opportunity to live out His story of redemption in my life.
In my daily life, this often comes through learning to care for my disabled daughter. I’ve had to process anger, grief, and frustration, and instead of seeing her as an obstacle to my happiness, I’m learning there are lessons God intends to teach me through my suffering. I have not always responded rightly, yet He is patient with me. Through these challenges, He is strengthening my faith and trust into something more sure and steady.
Gospel-Centered Living in Daily Life
If you, like me, have taken a step of faith to trust Christ as your Lord and Savior, the Gospel promises that your entire identity has changed. I must remind myself of this truth constantly. Sin may be our common struggle, but God will not leave us there. In His eyes, we are not just sufferers or sinners—we are saints in the making. Saints who suffer. Saints who sin.
When I live in obedience, it is an act of love and worship for all He has done for me—not an attempt to earn heaven. Gradually, as I take these steps in faith, He transforms me, and each year, I become more like Him.
Connecting Your Dots: Reflection Questions
In this series, I’ll include questions to help you move from ideas to steps of faith. You do not need to answer all of them—choose the ones that are most relevant to your current season.
How have you tried to live independently of God, and where do you feel the need for His grace?
What part of your life might God be calling you to reorient to Him today?
How has God used suffering or challenges to teach you reliance on Him?
In what area could you act in obedience out of gratitude for the Gospel, rather than self-reliance?
If you haven’t yet trusted Christ as your Savior, what would it look like to receive His love and forgiveness today?
