Monday, December 01, 2008

Look for the good news

As you know, the word "gospel" means "good news." The New Covenant is part of the good news. Christ in us is part of the good news. Eternal life is part of the good news. Sufficient grace is part of the good news. God working in and through us is part of the good news. Forgiveness of sin - in fact, sin taken away, is part of the good news. Love, joy, peace... and so on... is part of the good news.

There is so much BAD NEWS today. I'm not talking about the news that you see or hear on the TV or radio. I'm talking about stuff that comes from the pulpit! Sure, there's some grace taught, but it's all nullified with talk of shame, condemnation, guilt, etc. My purpose here isn't to put anyone down, but rather to point out that there is so much junk out there that has the potential to keep us from renewing our minds daily in the good news of Christ!

And so as I think about this, my encouragement is to focus on the good news! When you read your Bible, intentionally look for the good news. When you listen to people teaching or preaching, focus on the good news. It seems that for a long time I skipped past verses that say that I'm the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus and that I'm holy and accepted in the Beloved, because for various reasons I thought those things couldn't possibly be true of me, because my life didn't seem to show it very well!

But a closer look at all of it shows that it's ALL the work of God in me. It's not anything I've achieved, but it's what He has done on my behalf. It's His GIFT - and it's GOOD NEWS! So when you read your Bible and you come across something that seems too good to be true, don't pass it up. It IS true! It's good news! It's the Gospel!

1 comment:

  1. Yes, Joel, YES, YES. Hallelujah. A man that understands that our Papa is GOOD NEWS.

    You have made my day.

    There are two very simple truths. God is God and He only does good. Stantan is bad and He only does bad.

    In the words of the song, "God is Good all the time, and all the ime God is Good."

    Thank you, Joel!!!
    Bless you.

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