That’s for the Likes of Me
The gospel may look simple, but it's the only key that opens the heart.
Devotional Credit: In Christ by E. Stanley Jones
Photo Credit: Unsplash
In this heartfelt reflection, E. Stanley Jones reminds us that only the pure, undiluted gospel of Jesus Christ births new life. Philosophies may stir minds, and religious practices may shape habits—but only the gospel brings dead hearts to life. When the pastor first shared moral teachings or examples of Jesus' kindness, the dying woman couldn’t receive them. They felt out of reach—meant for “better people.” But when he finally proclaimed Jesus crucified for sinners, something awakened in her. “That’s for the likes of me,” she said.
That single moment captures the power of the gospel: it reaches into the lowest places and says, You are not beyond redemption. And what’s more, it reaches the preacher too. The pastor who once relied on inspiration or ethics was transformed by the same message. He said, “We got her in—and I got in too!” Because proclaiming Christ crucified doesn’t just change the listener—it awakens the speaker. The gospel doesn’t merely inform; it creates. And Jesus Himself is that gospel.
✍🏼 Personalized Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
I am not asking you to convince others with clever thoughts or polished principles. I am asking you to bear witness to Me. I am the power of God unto salvation—to the outcast, the broken, the worn down by shame. I do not call the righteous, but sinners. I do not come for the well-adjusted, but for the ones who know their need.
When you present Me merely as a teacher or example, you may impress. But when you proclaim Me as crucified for them, I create. I breathe new life into dead places. I do not need your eloquence—I need your surrender.
When she said, “That’s for the likes of me,” My Spirit had already opened her heart. And when he spoke the gospel he had once forgotten, I brought him in too. That’s what I do—I get people in. I take the lowest and lift them into My life.
You were once outside too. But I have brought you near by My blood. You belong, not because of what you’ve done, but because of what I’ve done. So speak freely of Me. Tell them the good news: Christ died for the ungodly. That’s for the likes of them. That’s for the likes of you. And that is the message that never returns void.
Scriptures referenced: 1 Corinthians 4:15; Romans 1:16; Luke 5:32; Ephesians 2:13; Romans 5:6; Isaiah 55:11
🧺 Real-Life Analogy
It’s like trying to unlock a door with all the wrong keys—each one polished, impressive, carefully crafted. But none of them open the lock. Then someone hands you a plain, worn key—the kind you'd almost throw away. You turn it, and the door opens wide. The gospel may not look glamorous, but it's the only key that fits the lock of a desperate heart.
🙏🏼 Prayer of Confidence
Father, I thank You that I don’t need to persuade anyone with performance or perfection. You have already provided the only message that saves—Christ crucified and risen. I rejoice that the same gospel that brought me in continues to bring others in through the simplicity of Your Spirit’s power. I rest today in knowing that Jesus is enough for every heart—mine included.