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Today, Michael Oh, Executive Director of The Lausanne Movement, shares his thoughts on “Being a People Shaped by the Gospel”:
We’ve reflected on and celebrated anew the salvation of God, won for us by the suffering of Jesus on the cross as a fulfillment of all the promises of God to Israel and to the World. This week we will explore one of the great ramifications of that salvation, namely, our sanctification. Notice the relationship between what Christ did on the cross and the ongoing results as explained by the writer of the book of Hebrews:
“For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
Hebrews 10:14, 19-25 (emphasis added)
Verses 19-25 explain verse 14, which declares that the single offering of Jesus on the cross not only perfected us for salvation, but also put us into a category of people who are “being sanctified”. Verses 19-25 illustrate this in two ways. These verses are saying that SINCE we have been saved, that should affect how we approach God (with a pure heart and full assurance), and behave within the household of God (stir up one another to love and good works, meet together, and encourage one another). The Gospel has practical ramifications for our daily lives.
Have we allowed the Gospel to shape us? Are there areas of life that still need to be refined in Gospel fire? As we seek to serve the Lord and his people, we must be careful not to disqualify ourselves through ungodliness. Today we consecrate anew our hearts and lives to God, for his glory and our joy.
Father, as we consider living lives shaped by the Gospel, we invite your penetrating and purifying work in our lives. We want to be useful for Kingdom work. We want to lead men and women to the knowledge of Christ. And we want to please you, our loving Father. Shape us.
Amen
This blog is a part of the Lausanne Global Prayer Focus. We invite you to journey with The Lausanne Movement in prayer throughout the month of May. This journey will be a personal one, and a collective one. It will be focused on the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, his good news for all people.
In week 2, we are focusing on The People Shaped by the Gospel. 
Download a prayer guide for the week, or visit lausanne.org/pray to access the new content daily. You may also enter your email on this page to be sent a weekly email reminder with the new prayer content each week of May. Be sure to select “Prayer” as a Topic Interest.