God Speaking

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

(Isaiah 61: 1)

Watching the television news lately can be very depressing with every story bringing ugly descriptions of “man’s inhumanity to man” (Alan Paton) from wars and abuse, to human trafficking to senseless shooting of school children. The internet is not much better with the hidden challenge of now for all of us, having to decide if this is fake news or real. It can be very disturbing to read of people who have ben fooled by what they think is real and only to find out they have been hoodwinked by evil people extracting money from them. We, the followers of Jesus must be constantly aware of the false news that begins to cause doubt about the truth of scripture and so easily fall onto the trap Eve fell into when Satan whispered these words, cleverly bringing doubt on the veracity of God’s words

 “…He said to the woman, Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?” (Genesis 3: 1)

Others can lead us astray by saying the same question in a different form, implying we don’t need to really believe what the Bible says.

The prophet Isaiah said in Chapter 25: 7 that the people had been covered in a shroud that was hiding the truth from them and the coming Saviour would destroy that shroud. We need to remember that verse and remember the power we must discern and disregard false news.

The news about Jesus Christ is described over and over in scripture as, good news. The angels told those shepherds long ago and they believed and worshipped that new, born king;

“But the angels said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people.” (Luke 2: 10)

Jesus himself begins his ministry telling the people the good news about their God;

“After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God” (Mark 1: 14)

After Jesus had shown himself as the risen Saviour to the apostles, they never stopped preaching the good news wherever they went despite opposition, persecution and gaol. They knew this was the real news everybody needed to hear;

“Day after day in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.” (Acts 5: 42)

Once we know that good news, we need to tell others and not keep it to ourselves. This sometimes shared the best way by living that good news. Our actions often can reflect the message of that good news, so that others will desire the peace and love we display in our lives and ask us what prompts our actions.  So wonderful to have good news to share despite what ever is raging around us.