Speaking Good News

I googled, “finding good news” just to see what might come up and I was surprised to learn that on the first page there were three sites that specialize in good news: goodnewsnetwork.org, goodnewsbroadcast.org, and goodnewsdaily.com. Evidently some people really do want good news.

We keep track of all the news, good and bad, because it affects us, but don’t you like the news that makes you smile more than the news that makes you scowl? There are those who listen to or watch the media onslaught of mostly-bad-news practically all day; it is important to them. But they can’t do much about the state of affairs, they often just end up worrying.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (KJV) It is God’s will that we rejoice, pray continuously, and give him thanks for everything. When we trust in God’s power and his desire for us that allows us to thank him for everything, then he turns those things into a blessing for us and for others. And after he has blessed us through those things, we have a testimony that is Good News. Beforehand, we might have believed that God could work for our benefit in any circumstance, but afterward we have a story of exactly how he did.

When someone is hurting from loss, it would sound trite to say, “Well, just remember, 1 Thessalonians says, ‘In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.’ ” Instead, we may tell our story of loss and God’s deliverance to give that one hope and the knowledge of where hope comes from. That is Good News for the one who hears.

This could be why 2 Corinthians 4:10 is so powerful, “I believe, therefore I speak.” Paul quotes the psalmist who believed that God had rescued him from death at the hands of some who were full of deceit. Paul, himself, had been delivered many times from danger. Part of the speech was a description of mistreatment, part of it was declaring God’s redemption.

Evangelism is speaking Good News about God's desire to be involved to in people's lives. Listening to the stories of what people are experiencing and letting them know that God is near; that he is active; that he cares about us all. This can be a life-changing moment for people. Don't be afraid to be a part of that.