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Searching for a Spark

The Cross is the blazing fire at which the flame of our love is kindled, but we have to get near enough to it for its sparks to fall on us.”
– John Stott

This past month there’s probably been no truth more in the forefront of my mind than the one which Stott is addressing. Unfortunately, I’m finding how all too often I tend to live for something else than the Gospel and how much vigilance I’m to muster in trusting that my approval, security and identity flow from Calvary. I always thought of myself as a fairly steady and sure person but after some introspection I’ve begun to notice a thread of doubt which runs through the fabric of my responses to people and things. Whenever I find myself uttering self-justifying statements or sense that I’m overly-critical in my assessment of a peer, I can be confident most of that flows from my unbelief, my lack of faith in the Gospel to be my sufficiency. The result is a lame (but pretty shrewd) attempt at trying to control my image.

Stott’s words are a good measure of the medication I need. I need the Gospel. I need it again…and again…and again. If I’m going to make any headway into a Cross-centered life I must “take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5) by unleashing the Gospel upon anything I’m trusting in to build me up besides the Cross.

It’s the best way I know of getting close to the fire.

Yancey Arrington
Dr. Yancey C. Arrington is an eighth generation Texan, Acts 29 Network and Houston Church Planting Network fan, and Teaching Pastor at Clear Creek Community Church in the Bay Area of Houston. He is also author of Preaching That Moves People and TAP: Defeating the Sins That Defeat You, and periodically writes for Acts 29 and The Gospel Coalition.

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