March Read: "The Cross Centered Life" by C.J. Mahaney

The past few weeks have been a blur. So much has happened. April 11 Lindsay and I packed up all of our earthly possessions and moved from Knoxville, Iowa to Pana, Illinois. God has been so good in going before us and behind us in leading during this time. I am especially thankful that God continues to teach me through the reading of His Word. I have also been continuing my challenge for 2013 to read one book a month that would challenge my thinking and spiritual growth.

During March I read “The Cross Centered Life” by C.J. Mahaney. This book came at just the right time in my life. The last few months I had been asking God to give me a better understanding of the gospel. Well, this book certainly does that! The gospel (or the Good News of Jesus Christ that He died for our sins and rose again) is applicable not only to the lost, but also to the believer every single day! What a glorious thought! I am a believer – saved by the grace of God – but I am by no means perfect. I am still in need of the gospel every day.

I was challenged to think through the ideas of legalism, condemnation, and also living by feelings vs. living by faith. God is so good to confront me in the areas that I so often struggle. How good it is to know that as a Christian I am by no means above the gospel. When I find myself leaning on my own goodness instead of the righteousness of Christ, I must pause and remember that ALL of my sins are paid for by Jesus on the cross. There is nothing that I need do – or can do!

In light of reading this book I now strive by the grace of God to “speak the gospel to myself” every day, reminding myself that “but by the grace of God I go.” I would appreciate your prayers as I continually learn to humble myself before my God and learn to rest completely in the finished work of the cross of Jesus. I also pray that you would learn to live in this grace as well! I invite you to read “The Cross Centered Life” as well and see how God might use it in your life.