Good News is for Sharing

            Joanne and I have the pleasure of announcing that our daughter, Brianne, became engaged to be married to Joshua Standridge last week. It was news that we were eager to share. Good news is like that. We are excited and enthused to get the word out… to let people know about our joy and Brianne’s, of course. When she told us earlier in the week we weren’t “able” to tell anyone, however. There were some people Brianne wanted to tell personally before they heard it from someone else, so we actually kept it “secret” for a little while. And actually, we knew before Brianne did that Josh was going to ask her to marry him. That was another secret to keep. Good news just doesn’t want to be kept secret, though. All in all it wasn’t a very long time, so we were able to do it. But when you’re full of joy, it has to “come out” sooner or later. It’s fun to share good news, too. People rarely, if ever, hesitate to share for fear of offending people or boring them.

            I think of the people Jesus healed or cast demons from. He sometimes would direct them not to tell anyone how it happened or who was responsible. It’s like He was keeping a secret. With Jesus it was all a matter of timing. If the information about Him spread in the wrong way, people would follow Him for the wrong reasons. They would not seek Him: they would seek the “goodies” He could provide. It would always be a matter of… “What have you done for me lately, Jesus?” Of course, Jesus has done overwhelmingly awesome things for us. We rejoice in them. We benefit from them. We celebrate them. But the “secret” we’re keeping – the good news we’re holding onto – is not about us. It’s all about Jesus.

            And it is worth sharing. Why? Because it’s the kind of news that changes lives. It’s the kind of news that brings hope for both now and eternity. And it’s the kind of news we want to get out: God has displayed His love for us through His Son – through His sinless life, substitutionary death, bodily resurrection, ascension to intercessory ministry, and giving of the Holy Spirit. There’s so much to tell. May it be a source of joy to us and not a feared “duty”! May it be our pleasure and not a “pain”! And may it always be to His glory!

Matthew 8:3-4 (NIV) ³  Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cured of his leprosy. ⁴  Then Jesus said to him, "See that you don't tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."

Matthew 9:35-38 (NIV) ³⁵  Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. ³⁶  When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷  Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. ³⁸  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

Acts 1:8 (NIV) ⁸  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

PRAYER: “Open my lips, Lord, to speak forth the love of Christ and the everlasting joys of knowing Him. May Christ’s salvation and my faith in Him not be a secret from those in my life! When they think of me, may they think well of Jesus. In His holy name I pray, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!

Scott