Every day we read the news and it seems our world keeps going from bad to worse. It can be discouraging as we try and live for Christ on a planet that seems determined to eradicate His name from its vocabulary. Intellectually we know that God is in control and in the end He will triumph. Through our logical eye, however, we question how that will ever be possible in a world that seems to have simply gone mad. Good news seems even better than it is because it has become so rare. Newspapers and web sites are full of negative stories be it concerning the economy, war, or violence perpetrated against random individuals. Over time it becomes numbing to the point that we simply get used to bad news.
God never gets used to sin; all through Scripture we read how He abhors violence and those who do evil. Time and again He has risen up against those who do not seek His face but rather have a heart set on sinful behaviors. Jesus chased sinners out of the temple for defiling the place set apart to worship God (Mark 11:15-17); He minced no words for those who were leading people away from God and His teachings (Matthew 23:25-33). God was so sick of the bad news that He sent the Good News in the form of His Son to redeem humanity. As followers of Christ, we must never become numb to the evils of our day. Instead we must counter its effects by sharing the good news of Jesus with everyone we meet.
Sharing the gospel doesn’t mean we need to cram it down the throats of strangers or throw it in the face of those we know. The good news of Jesus is meant to be demonstrated, not force-fed. When we share a kind word or spare a few dollars to help someone in need, we are sharing the good news of Jesus. When we feed the hungry and care for the sick, we are sharing the good news of Jesus. When we look after the orphans and the widows, the homeless and the single mothers, we are sharing the good news of Jesus. When we act in the ways that Jesus would, we are bringing good news into the lives of others.
In order to share the good news with those around us, we must make certain that we do not become discouraged or disheartened by the enormous amount of bad news that floods our senses. One habit I have learned and incorporated into my life is to never look at the news until after lunch. Why would you want to start your day by filling your mind with negative and depressing thoughts? Instead, spend your mornings reading the Bible, praying and reading inspirational stories. The bad news will still be there for you to read later if you wish. By starting the day with a positive mindset that is focused on God, you will find that the bad news will begin to shock you again, which should motivate you to action.
We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the evil that surrounds us. If we are to continue the mission of Christ, we have to counteract the evil by shining the light of the love of God into the darkest corners of humanity. There is no excuse for us to get used to bad news. We know the answer and we know the truth. We have the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let’s focus on His love and share the good news with everyone we meet, demonstrating His love and furthering His Kingdom until those around us have no choice but to get used to good news.
Question: In what way can you spread the good news today? You can share your comments with others below.