Share the Good News

Have you had good news you were just itching to share with someone – anyone?

You know the kind - the knock-you-out-of-your-socks kind that really blows you away? Things like your child gets accepted to Harvard; your youngest finally gets math; your daughter gets a fully paid scholarship to the institute of higher learning of her choice; you’re going to be a mom (or a dad); you’re going to be a grandparent; you’re engaged. I could go on and on, but you get the drift I am sure.

Well, I have some good news to share too, but mine comes from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Yes, you guessed it, it is the Good News of eternal life through His grace by believing in Him.

Probably the most famous of all the Bible verses pertaining to belief in Christ being associated with eternal life is John 3:16 (NIV) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

It’s the first verse I memorized as a child. Perhaps that is the case for you too.

At the time, I really did not thoroughly understand the significance of such a belief. I did not understand the commitment required of me. I thought it was enough to just believe.

But, I have found that faith requires more of me, even though the apostle Paul said that “not by works so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:9 (NIV))

When I did a Bible study centered on James, I found a question that caused me to consider deeds as a significant part of the Christian, faith-centered life. One verse stood out; James 2:14 (NIV) What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?

Good question, eh?

Jesus talked about advancing His message through helping one another, explaining that by assisting a person in peril, you are actually spreading the love of Christ and His message through your acts of kindness and mercy. In Matthew 25:44-46 (NIV), [Jesus said] 44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

For me, helping my fellow man is being true to my “job” as a Christian. Likewise, through this ministry of the written word spreading the Good News of Christ’s birth, death and resurrection is a true follower’s calling that, again, for me, is second to none.

Bottom line, Jesus, through His sacrifice, gave us the Good News to proclaim. It’s part of the Great Commission where Christ directed his followers to spread the Gospel to all the earth. Matthew 28:16-20 (NIV) 16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

It's as simple as – you are saved by grace if you believe. BUT, that saving grace requires you to –love one another and proclaim your gift of eternal life through His grace by faith in Him.

Why not start today by spreading the Good News to others you meet, whether it’s at work or at play or in the grocery store, or at the barber shop or even at Bible study or church?

After all, “Good news kept silent is no news at all.”  ---C.P. Hia

Until next week - May God bless you and help you spread the Good News.

Let's accept that we are all sinners

As the apostle Paul said in Romans 3:23 (NIV) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

This was not my intended blog post today. In fact, I was thinking about Titus 2:11-12 instead, but a Facebook post by my daughter sent this commentary in a whole different direction.

A little background – Several months ago a gay couple, Ozzie Russ and Steve Schlairet, who live in Washington County, Florida, where my daughter and her family reside, filed a lawsuit to get the right to obtain a marriage license and marry one another in Florida.

A federal court judge ruled in the plaintiff’s favor writing in his opinion that the ban was unconstitutional, and yesterday the first day the ban was officially lifted, Washington County Clerk’s office issued three same-sex marriage licenses, including one to Russ and Schlairet.

This decision is contrary to the vote of the people that banned same-sex marriages in Florida. In Washington County, the ban was approved by a 9-1 margin.

My daughter posted the following in her disgust at the pastors who protested the decision at the court house - Ashamed of the pastors/residents protesting gay marriage in the Holmes/Washington County area. Just showing what redneck pieces of trash you are. You have all sinned and continue to do so. Unless you are involved in these people's marriage it's none of your business. If God wants to condemn these people he will do so at the pearly gates. It is not your place to judge! My children are taught to love not hate and none of them will ever attend a church that one of you pigs preaches at or other protesters attend. If we have to praise God from our homes we will!

Her post got me to thinking about the issue. And, I wrote the following in reply to her opinion - Amanda, you said it so well. Jesus said, "Love one another," (John 13:34-35 NIV) not hate and ridicule and intimidate and protest. If these people are going to protest sin, they best start in their own home. None of us are without sin, so the Good Book says. Adam and Eve guaranteed that. Maybe these folks should read Mary Ann Froehlic's book, "Courageous Gentleness - Following Christ's Example of Restrained Strength." Froehlich reminds everyone that gentleness is one of the qualities that draws many to God. This book provides a biblically sound understanding of what it means to be tenderhearted and kind in your relationships with family, neighbors, coworkers and even enemies, according to Discovery House, the publishers of this work. If you do not have a copy of this book in your family, church or local library, you can purchase one through this link. When you get it, READ IT AND APPLY IT TO YOUR LIFE and your dealings with others - friend or foe.

Of course I know what the Good Book has to say about immoral acts, homosexuality being one of them, Romans 1:26-27 NIV, but I also know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ consorted with men and women of questionable morals. How else would He have been able to share his message?

How can we fulfill the Great Commission Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV) unless we get out in the world and preach the Gospel?

Personally, I believe in the message of the parable of the stoning of the immoral woman. Remember that one? Let those of you who are without sin cast the first stone. You’ll find the entire story in John 8 (NKJV).

I am confident that not one of those protestors are without sin. So I would suggest that they use some courageous gentleness by sharing the message of salvation to everyone, not just those that darken their church doors or follow their rules of compliance.

In my opinion, protest and ridicule are definitely no sharing God’s love for all mankind.
Jesus came to this world to offer salvation through faith in Him. We are no longer under the Law according to Romans 3:21-31 (NIV).

We, as believers, are saved through faith; saved by His grace – no more, no less. The Bible says so in Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

We are not, by any stretch of the imagination, free of sin. Even though we try to live as good, moral, Christian folk, sin permeates every facet of our life.

Food for thought? Sure got me thinking about a lot of things, not just gay marriage. How about you?

And, as is always my prayer for you, May God bless each and every one of you every day in every way. Amen!