Passage from What is the Gospel

I read the book What is the Gospel by Greg Gilbert a few months back. One section at the end jumped out at me. It pretty much slapped me across the face. Just thought I would share.

  Also, Christian, the gospel should drive you to a deeper and livelier love for God's people, the church. Not one of us Christians has earned his or her way into the inheritance God has stored up for us. We are not "self-made" citizens of the kingdom. We are included in God's promises only because we know that we are dependent on Jesus Christ to save us, and we are united to him by faith. But here's the kicker. Do you realize that the same thing is true of that brother or sister in your church who annoys you? He or she believes in and loves the same Lord Jesus that you do, and even more, he or she has been saved and forgiven by the same Lord who saved and forgave you. Think about that brother or sister you've not really taken the time to get to know because you just don't think you'd click. Think about that person with whom you have broken relationship that you've refused to repair. Now consider that he or she loves and trust in the same Lord you do. Consider that the same Lord who died for you, also died for him, for her.
  I wonder if your understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ - the good news that Jesus saved you even though you didn't deserve it - is deep enough to swallow up that little criticism you have of your brothers and sisters. I wonder if it's deep enough to sink the offenses they've committed against you, even the most painful ones, and lead you to forgive them and love them just as Jesus himself has done for both of you.
  I wonder if the vastness of God's love for you has increased your love for others.

Book List for 2012

A few years ago I started keeping track of the books I read. When I finish a book I write down the title, author, and date I finish it. It has been so much fun to be able to look back and remember each one. Here is my 2012 list.

If: What do We Know of Calvory Love - Amy Carmichael 

Call the Sabbath a Delight   - Walter Chantry

The Radical Cross - A.W. Tozer

Loneliness - Elisabeth Elliot

Discipline: The Glad Surrender - Elisabeth Elliot

Don't Waste Your life - John Piper

These Strange Ashes - Elisabeth Elliot

Future Grace - John Piper

L'Abri - Edith Schaeffer

Crazy for God: How I Grew Up as One of the Elect, Helped Found the Religious Right and lived to take all (or Almost All) of It Back  - Frank Schaeffer

What is a Healthy Church - Mark Dever

Let's Just be Friends - H. Norman Wright

Secure in the Everlasting Arms - Elisabeth Elliot

Outrageous Forgiveness - Larry Lilly

Treasures of the Snow - Patricia St. John

Worldliness - C.J. Mahaney

Winning Him Without Words - L. Donovan & D. Miller

I Will Carry You - Angie Smith

The Great Divorce - C.S. Lewis

Surrender - Nancy Leigh DeMoss

Around the World in 80 Days -Jules Verne

Love Has a Price Tag - Elisabeth Elliot

Let Me Be a Woman - Elisabeth Elliot

Through Gates of Splendor - Elisabeth Elliot

The Explicit Gospel - Matt Chandler

Mistaken Identity - Cerak, VanRyn

The Prayer Matrix - David Jeremiah

WHat is the Gospel - Greg Gilvert

Radical Hospitality - David and Ruth Rupperecht