Tag: good news

Categories
Isaiah Devotionals

Our hope in a darkened world

darkened world

As I read Isaiah’s words, it reminded me of how little this world has changed.

Just looking at the news this week, I see all the violence and bloodshed, all the injustice that’s in this world.

We live in a world where truth has stumbled in the public square, where people have rejected God’s truth and are trying to create their own.

But again, these are not new problems. Isaiah was talking about this kind of thing thousands of years ago. And sometimes it’s easy to feel like Isaiah.

We hope for light, but there is darkness;
for brightness, but we live in the night. (Isaiah 59:9)

But I love Isaiah’s words in verses 15-16.

The Lord saw that there was no justice,
and he was offended.

He saw that there was no man—
he was amazed that there was no one interceding;
so his own arm brought salvation,
and his own righteousness supported him. (15-16)

Of course, Isaiah is talking about Jesus. And by going to the cross, he paid the price for our sin which had separated us from God, and brought us salvation.

But more, we see in this passage that Jesus will come again and he will bring justice. And this world will be made whole. (17-20)

That’s our hope.

So as we face this darkened world, let us put on the armor of God, his helmet of salvation and his breastplate of righteousness, guarding our hearts and minds from discouragement and any spiritual attack Satan would bring against us.

And let’s go out wearing the shoes of the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15), bringing the hope of our salvation to those around us who are without hope.

As Isaiah said,

How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of the herald,
who proclaims peace,
who brings news of good things,
who proclaims salvation,
who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7)

Categories
Isaiah Devotionals

Take me back Tuesday — For you

A little something I wrote a few years ago, but seems appropriate to bring back as we start approaching the Christmas season.

You may feel like the shepherds. You may feel insignificant. Unimportant.

But Jesus was born for you.

For you.

For you (Isaiah 9:6; Luke 2:11)
Categories
Acts Devotionals

Spreading joy

Acts

Saul, however, was ravaging the church. He would enter house after house, drag off men and women, and put them in prison.

So those who were scattered went on their way preaching the word…

So there was great joy in that city. (Acts 8:3-4, 8)

There is precious little joy in the world today. Everywhere we look, we see news of Covid-19, wars, and natural disasters. And all this has affected Christians as well. 

But let us follow the example of these Christians in the book of Acts. 

There is only one thing that can bring true joy into this world: the gospel of Jesus Christ.

So let us be people who spread joy to those around us, sharing with them the good news of God’s Son. 

That good news gave us life.

Let’s give that life to those around us.

Categories
2 Kings Devotionals

When we fail to believe. When we fail to share.

2 Kings

This passage starts and ends with the story of the king’s captain.

He failed to believe in the salvation God promised to provide, and as a result, he perished.

The same is true for people today. If they fail to believe in the salvation God provides through Jesus Christ, they will perish.

But in Romans, the apostle Paul asks us a very important question:

How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in?

And how can they believe without hearing about him?

And how can they hear without a preacher? (Romans 10:14).

Answer: they can’t.

And for many people you know, you are the only “preacher” they will ever meet.

So as with the lepers in this story, we too have a responsibility to share this salvation we have received.

It is not enough for us to enjoy our salvation. We must share the good news with others.

And if we don’t, God will hold us accountable.

Paul himself understood that from scripture. (Ezekiel 3:16-21, Acts 20:26-27)

Again, for many of the people you know, you are the only Christian they will ever meet.

So if you don’t share the good news of God’s salvation with them, who will?

Categories
Acts

The whole counsel of God

Paul and Felix

Paul once told the Ephesians,

I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. (Acts 20:26-27, ESV)

What did he mean by “the whole counsel of God?” I think we catch a glimpse of it here.

Paul was brought before the Roman governor Felix to face his accusers. After the initial hearing was held, Felix called in Paul more than once to chat, and Paul took the opportunity to talk about his faith in Christ.

But Paul didn’t stop at talking about God’s love, the cross, and the salvation that comes by faith. Rather,

Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come. (Acts 24:25a)

In short, Paul told Felix, “You know that your life is not right before God. You know that you have sinned, and unless you turn from your sin, you will be judged someday.”

The result?

Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” (Acts 24:25b)

The gospel is not all God’s love and good, warm, fuzzy feelings.

The gospel also is, “There is a serious problem. You have sinned and are facing condemnation. So turn to Christ. Put your faith in him and his work on the cross for you while you can.”

And if we fail to tell people this, we are not giving people the whole counsel of God, and we will be responsible for their blood if they go to hell.

I’m not saying we should literally “scare the hell out of them.”

The Gospel is “good news.”

And the good news is that we don’t have to go to hell. That God loves us so much that he made a way, not only to escape hell, but to live a life that’s full and complete. To have a life filled with his joy and peace.

That’s where our main focus should be when preaching the gospel.

But we do need to warn people, “If you refuse Jesus, you are facing judgment.”

Some people, like Felix, may become fearful as a result.

They may chase us away until a more “convenient time.”

But how they respond is not our responsibility. All we can do is share the message God has given us.

How about you? Are you giving the people the full counsel of God?

Categories
John John 4

Breaking down the barriers

John

The disciples’ reaction to Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman is very interesting. John writes,

Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman.

But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” (John 4:27)

Now what does this mean exactly? Does it mean that they had become so used to Jesus’ ways that they accepted this as natural, though no other Rabbi would be caught dead talking to a Samaritan woman, especially in public?

Or does it mean that they wanted to ask these questions, but didn’t dare?

I tend to think it was the latter.

Remember the situation. Jews tended to see Samaritans as half-breeds who had perverted the Jewish faith by mixing it with other religions. As a result, they wanted nothing to do with them.

But as the Samaritans came up from the town to see Jesus, he told his disciples,

I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. (John 4:35)

In other words, “These are not dirty, filthy, outcasts. Sinners beyond any hope of repentance. These are people that God loves.

He has been working in their hearts in ways that you don’t know. Others have been sowing seeds in their heart, and you now have the privilege to reap the harvest.”

And that day, many Samaritans came to believe in Jesus.

Jesus smashed the cultural and religious barriers people had set up to reach a people that were lost. And he calls us to do the same.

How about you? How do you see the people around you?

I look at how many Christians treat gays, for example, and it seems they view gays the same way that Jews viewed Samaritans.

Many in the church almost seem to view them as the enemy. But whatever else they may be, they are not our enemies. They are people like us, in need of a Savior.

Or how many people do you know personally that you fail to share Christ with for other reasons?

Because of their religious beliefs or lack thereof. Or because of their character or personality. Or because you simply don’t like them.

Jesus says to us, “Don’t look at them as people beyond any hope of repentance. And most certainly, don’t look at them as people worthy of contempt.

Look at them as a field that needs sowing, and harvesting. Look at them as people who need me.”

You may be the sower. You may be the reaper.

But let us break down the barriers of culture and religion, and let us break down the barriers we have set up in our own hearts and reach a lost world for Christ.

Categories
Isaiah

Good news

Isaiah

We live in a world where it seems that most of the news is bad.  Earthquakes, crime, political corruption, the list goes on and on and on.  It’s pretty easy to get depressed.

But when Jesus came, he spoke the words Isaiah wrote here, saying,

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. 

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.  (Isaiah 61:1-2)

Good news.  Isn’t that something that we all need?  Isn’t it something that this whole world needs? 

So many are living with hearts that are broken.  So many are captive to sin, living in darkness with no hope.  But Jesus came to set people free from all that.

He came to comfort those who mourn and bring them joy.

He came to fill their hearts and mouths with praise, rather than despair.

To take them from the ashes of their lives and crown them with beauty, to plant them as oaks of righteousness that can stand through the storms of life, and for His glory. (2-3)

To rebuild the ruins of their lives, and restore the parts of their lives that have been devastated. (4)

To make them his priests and ministers before him.  (6)

To take away their shame and disgrace, and give them a lasting inheritance that will not corrupt or fade over time. (7)

To clothe us with garments of his salvation and robes of righteousness, justifying us by the blood of Jesus, and sanctifying us by his Spirit.  (10)

Good news?  That’s great news! 

So as Christmas starts to draw near, let us share its true meaning with the people around us and the life that Christ himself offers them so that they may receive what we already have.

As Isaiah said in chapter 52 verse 7,

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation.