Humans are a rough class. They are each blighted by insecurity. By nature, people are defensive, proud and threatened. When people are hit with pressure, without anything more, the default response is: Defend what I have; believe I am more worthy than I am; and assume those who are questioning me are attackers.
The gospel cures all three symptoms.
The gospel replaces the mound you possess, with an entire Kingdom for you to own. It is the real estate deal of the century. You trade your pitiful patch of turf that you have been manfully defending, with an indestructible Kingdom that expands to the outmost parts of the universe.
The gospel replaces your pride which has self-ranked you higher than your neighbours, but which can never rank you higher than God. The curse of pride is that you so desperately want to surpass your neighbour as a way of surpassing God. But the gospel gives you the rank at the top: God's favourite creature.
The gospel replaces your phobia of rejection and of attack by others, because by the gospel God has accepted you. The opinions of the lowly disintegrate in light of the Opinion of the Universe. Who cares if your fellow student reads your essay and fails you when the most eminent professor in the world at the best university gives you a first-class distinction?
Gospel people are free of defence, pride and threat. Gospel people are secure and sturdy. Gospel people are easy to talk to, not jumpy and edgy, clutching the handle of their daggers, sweating on the triggers of their pistols, nervously waiting for their moment of self-defence.
Gospel people walk approved. Gospel people should be those who are most equipped to love others.
Gospel people float affirmation, humility and peace to the top of each conversation; while sinking defence, pride and threats to the ocean's floor.
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