I remember receiving the news that my wife and I were going to have our first child- ‘best news ever’! I remember the news that we were having a second baby- ‘second best news ever’! I remember finding out my vasectomy didn’t work- just kidding… Good news is all to rare these days. It seems that bad news get published more than good. The absolute best news is the Good News of the gospel. To close his letter to the believers in Corinth- the apostle Paul sums up what he had share with them as dear brothers and sisters. It is a brilliant summation of the life changing message and love of God. Paul reminds all of us- Jesus died for me (to forgive my sins). Oh, the implications are profound, eternal, and transformative. Jesus rose from the dead and hundreds attested to the veracity. That means, I have a hope beyond this life to live in paradise with Him and others forever. Now that’s the best news ever. Lastly, Paul simply says- ‘continue to believe the message’. There have been some prominent popular people who have stopped believing in the Good News. I am sad for them. But, I am so glad for the millions who have received this news and taken it to heart. Please be one of those.
Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it. It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place. I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 1 Corinthians 15:1-6 NLT
How has the Good News affected me and my life? How often have I been willing and available to share it with others?
God, as this day begins- I say Thank You! Thank You for Jesus, the dear Son of God who bought my ransom, saved my life, gives me purpose, and loves me without end. I am more determined than ever to share the Good News with all I know. I feel like time is running out. There is no time to shrink back, but only stand firm and bold. If people ask me why I am so joyful, its because of You and this amazing Good News!
