When you look at a newspaper, watch the news on television, or read the news on the internet, there is not much that you can call good news. The news is filled with stories of disasters, terrorism, threats of war, violence, and hate. Our minds are bombarded with endless stories about the things going on in the lives of celebrities, sports stars, and politicians. And then, of course, there is gossip and even “fake” news. There seems to be very little news in the world that you can honestly call good news. So, where can you find good news?
God’s Word is filled with good news. It’s the good news of our salvation from sin, the good news that there is a Savior who has set us free from the penalty of our sin. That good news is the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ. The good news begins with God’s plan to redeem us through the promised Messiah, the suffering servant (Zechariah 3:9; Isaiah 42:1-4)). The good news continues with the birth of a child, a child born of a virgin fulfilling the Old Testament prophecies (Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; Micah 5:2). The good news goes on to tell us that this child grew to be a man who sacrificed His life, taking upon Himself the penalty of our sins and restoring our relationship with God (Isaiah 53:12). The good news is Jesus Christ, the fulfillment of God’s great love for us (John 3:16).
But, the good news doesn’t end there. Jesus did not just die for us. He also rose from the grave, conquering sin and death, providing salvation for all who believe in Him throughout the generations, past, present, and future (Romans 10:9). The good news has no end. The good news will go on through eternity. When we receive this good news, we need to tell it to others, so that the good news that we receive can go throughout the world. The good news of Jesus Christ has the power to change lives through those whose lives have already been changed when they not only heard but also understood the truth about God’s wonderful, amazing grace (Colossians 1:6 NLT).
A Worshiper's Journal 