Good News and Bad News
Good News and Bad News
Have you heard any bad news lately? Are you starting to realize we are inundated with it? We hear it on the news stations over and over again. The internet and social media is filled with it, keeping us up to date on all the bad things that are happening. Our friends and family are calling to share what has gone awry with their children and their marriages. Before we know it, we are focused on all the bad news. We forget there is good news.
This is not new. In Paul’s letter to Timothy, he told him,
“But know this: Hard times will come in the last days. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, demeaning, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to the form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid these people. For among them are those who worm their way into households and deceive gullible women overwhelmed by sins and led astray by a variety of passions, always learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.” 2 Timothy 3:1-7
Jesus warned us in John 10:10, “A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…” Satan is alive and well and quite frankly, I believe a little freaked out. He knows his days are numbered. He will do all he can to make good people do bad things, to keep those who know they need Jesus from seeking Him and to distract us from letting God use us and our life for His glory. He – Satan – is bad news.
But there is more to our story. Jesus goes on in John 10:10 to say, “…I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.” That my friend, is good – oh, so good – news. Jesus came to give, not to get or to take anything away from us. He came so that we might have eternal life, but also that our life here and now might be filled with meaning and purpose. He came to offer us peace and joy and a life that is better than we could ever imagine. God’s word teaches us that it is not our wealth or position in this world that is important. This abundance has nothing to do with material things.
Abundance is not about the physical circumstances of our life. It is all about the spiritual condition of our heart. Following Jesus, surrendering every area of our life and living a life that glorifies Him is not easy. But the more we do those things, the more abundance in Him we will experience. This abundance includes exceedingly abundantly about all love, joy, peace, and all of the fruits of the spirit. The more His transformation takes place in our life, the more of the abundant life we experience.
There is good news and bad news. Paul goes on to tell Timothy…
“In fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Evil people and impostors will become worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you, and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:12-17
So friend, embrace the good news. The Good News overcomes the bad news. Learn to master what matters…
Love Jesus with all of your heart, soul and mind.
Seek Him first above all else.
Spend time studying God’s word and in prayer.
Worship Him daily.
Live a life that brings honor and glory to His name.
Praise Him – no matter what – praise His Holy Name!
Note from Pam...
Hi friend! I hope you are encouraged by this post. I want us to hold hands and together learn to master what matters. Let's put Jesus first in our life and learn to live the abundant life He came to offer us. Let's stay connected. Visit www.pampegram.com and click the Connect link. Also, please comment, like and share as much as you are comfortable..