Good News

Today we have the opportunity to “join into” the wonderful life of Jesus Christ. There has never been any better news. Unfortunately for the people of our world, this opportunity of extreme grace will soon end. Through-out history worldly people have called this Good News a ridiculous theory but a few people believed it and have died for the message. The fact that the Son of God became a human and lived with us is hard to believe.  

The complete story of God’s good news is complicated. However a complete understanding of what God is doing is not required for redemption. It is by simple faith that we can obtain this great opportunity. Although the born-again experience is simple, usually religious people will complicate it by requiring many pointless requirements. Keeping rules is not required by the Good News that Jesus gave to us.   

Preaching the gospel to others is the Christian goal on earth. But it is impossible for us to change the attitude or nature of other people. Paul proclaimed the answer: For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes… Romans 1:16 (NLT). The Good News has the special power of the Spirit contained in it. This power of the Spirit has the ability to change any ungodly nature into a pure one.

The Good News and the special power it contains, make it possible to live a life that the world does not understand. Paul also gave us the purpose for this new life. He said: For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Phil 2:13 (NLT). Yes, the Christian life is all about doing the things that please God. This includes everything, both our internal thinking and external activities. 

Understanding that the Gospel News contains special power that allows us to reach out to the unsaved with confidence. Jesus preached about the Good News even before He died: “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” Mark 1:15 (NLT). The power of the Spirit will give us the proper things to say when we witness to others.

The Bible talks about overcoming the world we live in. this means that we must never allow our discouragements to ruin our simple faith in Jesus. The Bible says: You must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. Col 1:23 (NLT). When our load of sin is lifted at first we are excited. But as time goes by we must hold tightly to our first love. 

God’s grace, peace and hope are so valuable that we must never give up loving Him. My friends, the Good News is well worth dying for. It is worth it all both today and forever.

Portrait in Clay

Making a sculpture of a person is very difficult but there are talented people who can do it. A clay likeness can be a reminder of someone who is important to us although it is dark and lifeless. What if there were a mysterious light inside of the figure that caused its features to shine with a live rendering of reality? The power inside beautiful figure might begin to make us love it even better than the original person. 

Believe it or not, any person can be changed when God’s powerful light comes to live inside them. The Bible says: We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. 2 Cor 4:7 (NLT). The Savior is the light that will set in motion a perpetual change if we allow it. This is beyond normal human abilities. 

Jesus spent years giving both physical and mental healing to afflicted humans. Today many folks think that the life-work of Christ ended at the cross. Nothing could be further from the truth. His work continues today bigger than ever because the Savior now lives inside of healed people. Genuine Christians have His power and light shining out from them. Of course many of us will stand in the way of “the Light” at times.

Peter talked about a new day dawning in our hearts.  … for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts. 2 Peter 1:19 (NLT). This apostle says that a new Day will dawn in our life when we humble ourselves and accept Jesus. The Lamp that shines inside of a Christian is what lights up our portrait or sculpture. This makes us one of God’s “little lights” to the world. 

The new covenant that Jesus has provided makes this shinning of our life possible. We can never forget that any good thing, people see in us, is directly related to “the Light”. The Bible says: For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.  Eph 5:8-9 (NLT). This is the only way we are able to please the Lord. 

Each of us is a lump of clay that will someday return to dirt. The world will sculpt us into a dark ugly figure that will offend many others. But the word of God says that “whosoever will” may come to Jesus. The Lord will shape us into a bright and beautiful person if we allow it. Every Christian has a magnificent opportunity to follow the Spirit that lives in them. This will make each of us a light that calls to the unsaved heart.