For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. — 1 Corinthians 2:2
Vince Lombardi was known for keeping things simple. As head coach of the Green Bay Packers in the 1960s, he won five NFL Championships and the first two Super Bowls. His motto was simple: concentrate on the basics.
On one occasion after a particularly rough stretch in the season, Coach Lombardi gathered his players on the field and looked them squarely in the eye. Holding the football high in the air, he shouted, “Okay, gentlemen, today we go back to the basics. You guys, look at this. This is a football!”
Sometimes in our faith we just need to get back to the basics. Not because it’s wrong to wrestle with profound spiritual matters – but because the fundamentals of the Gospel are what fuel the Christian life.
As Paul writes in Romans 1:16, the Gospel is “the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.”
So take some time today to quiet your heart, clear your mind, and meditate on the essentials: Jesus loves you. Jesus saved you. And Jesus is with you.
Those simple truths can have a profound impact on your faith – giving you the strength and wisdom you need to live boldly and joyfully for Christ.
Prayer Challenge
Ask God to impress on you the essentials of the Gospel. Pray for the grace to keep your heart focused on these basic truths.
Questions for thought
Why do you think Christians lose sight of the essentials of the Gospel?
How is the Gospel both simple and profound at the same time? (See the rest of 1 Corinthians 2.)