Fundamental Foundations

        I was at a concert years ago of a trumpet player named, Rafael Mendez.  He was rather good to say the least.  He was asked a question after the concert on what he considered to be the reason for his fantastic technique.  He replied that it was due to three things.  Scales, scales and scales.  Musicians know that the most fundamental area of study on any instrument are the scales which consist of at least 4 major forms including, major scales, pure minor, harmonic minor and melodic minor.  The accompanying arpeggio would go with them.  The scales are the most fundamental area but have lasting results especially in the area of technique on any instrument.  You can't get around things that are fundamental.  They lay the foundation and you can't have anything without a firm foundation.  When thinking about the Christian life, one thing stands out as being fundamental and that is the definition of the Gospel.  First Corinthians 15:1-4 says, "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;  By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.   For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;" 
        It is often mentioned that the one thing that believers have to do is the spreading of the Gospel.  Unfortunately, many don't have a clue as to what the gospel is and as a result, they are propagating their own belief system rather than what is defined as the Gospel.  The Apostle Paul defined the message of the Gospel when he penned the first letter to the Corinthians.  He states right at the beginning of the chapter that he declares the Gospel and then goes on in the 3rd and 4th verse to clearly define the Gospel message as being the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.  If the message that you are declaring does not have those three items in it, then you are not declaring the Gospel but rather your own ideas which really don't have too much to say about eternal life.  So, like Rafael Mendez, the fundamental thing responsible for success in the ministry is the declaring of the Gospel to a lost and dying world.  As scales were to Rafael, so the Gospel is for the Christian worker, the missionary and the believer as they seek to reach others with this important message.  Praise God today that He has given us a clear message to take to the world.