The Best News

What’s the best news that you have heard?  Near the top of the list are things like the birth of a child, the discovery of love, or a recovery of a very ill person.  Somewhat further down are moments of success; a new business, a windfall profit, a new home. I love to share good news, don’t you?

We who know Christ are entrusted with the Best News. What is it? If you say, “Jesus died on the cross for my sins,” I’ll disagree. Now you are wondering about my Christianity, aren’t you? 

Listen to what Jesus told His disciples to tell others: "After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:14-15, NIV)  "When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick." (Luke 9:1-2, NIV)

Telling others that they are ‘sinners,’ is not good news. It is true that apart from Christ, we all will miss God’s plan, we are hopelessly corrupted by evil, and we are spiritually dead.  But, how can we ever reach others if the first thing we tell them is that they are miserable, sinful wretches destined for destruction?  We must announce Good News.  We are messengers of a glorious Kingdom.  We declare: “God loves you. He has a destiny that you can discover through faith. He is greater than the evil so prevalent in this world. Would you like to know Him?”   The Gospel is that "to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son." (John 1:12-14, NLT)

When the Spirit has awakened a desire, then we can turn attention to the Cross of Christ, where the guilt is erased, where atonement (at-one-ment) replaces alienation!  The best news for people is that there is something better than can be found in pleasure, money, sex, or power.  Jesus calls it the abundant life or life to the full.  We can know a life of love, become people with purpose, and take hold of the promise of eternal life right now.  That is Great News.

Paul, a man who knew first-hand the disappointment of religiosity, celebrates the love of God and the possibilities that His Kingdom creates for those who enter it through faith in the Savior. "All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure." (Ephesians 1:3-5, NLT)  "May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:19-21, NLT)  That is the BEST News.

As you pray for friends and family members who are not yet disciples of Christ Jesus, begin to pray for their hearts and minds to desire more than they can find in the daily scramble of existence. Ask the Spirit to speak to them of a better kingdom.  Take the opportunity to speak boldly of the new way that God has prepared.

_____________

Satisfied

All my lifelong I had panted

For a draught from some cool spring

That I hoped would quench the burning

Of the thirst I felt within.

Poor I was and sought for riches,

Something that would satisfy,

But the dust I gathered 'round me

Only mocked my soul's sad cry.

Well of water ever springing,

Bread of life, so rich and free.

Untold wealth that never faileth,

My Redeemer is to me.

Hallelujah! I have found Him

Whom my soul so long has craved.

Jesus satisfies my longings

Thro' His blood I now am saved!

Clara Tear Williams | Ralph E. Hudson

© Words: Public Domain

Music: Public Domain