George Macdonald 
The Hope of the Gospel 

Sometimes we choke on the hors d'oeuvres at a biblical meal and miss the main course. The rich, profound, and uplifting message of biblical scriptures serves as the main course. In the end, you leave the biblical truth banquet feeling hungry and frustrated.Three appetizers are presented to us in today's devotional reading from the Bible, but they actually side dishes rather than main meals.If a person does not make an effort, he is left to do evil and pay the price. Our sinful ideas are our living sins, while our wrongdoings are our dead works.In response to his forerunner's skepticism, the Lord sent a messenger back who had witnessed what he was doing in order to awaken or strengthen his understanding that his kingdom was not of this world.The Lord's remarks seemed to indicate that he didn't need to worry about his own security. There are numerous explanations for why Jesus of Nazareth was discovered in God's temple.Gospel is the good news that even the greatest sinners have hope-hope for reconciliation, forgiveness, and holiness. It is alive and active, piercing to the division of the soul and spirit, and sharper than a two-edged sword.