Gospel Truth

‬Romans ‭1:16‬ ‭- For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

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We all love receiving good news. Who doesn’t? 

That’s what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is. For a lot of people, as the Bible says, it is foolishness. I thought it foolishness much of my life. I thought it foolish to believe I needed more of Jesus than what I knew from confirmation classes and Sunday school as a youngster in the Lutheran Church.

Gospel means a good message or good news. That’s what it is! But people believe it’s not for them but the other person. They might think, I’m pretty much honest, I don’t go out of my way to be mean, I’m a giving person, I’m patriotic, I believe in helping people, not like so and so. I, I, I. Our own mind and strength, comparing. Maybe even...if I do these good things, God will see what I have done and approve of me. What did you do better than what Jesus did? 

Everyone needs to be forgiven of their sins and saved. Everyone needs humility. Everyone needs wisdom. Everyone needs to put others before himself. And we are not perfect. Everyone needs Jesus...more than just knowing who He is and believing He did die for our sins. More than that. Not just head knowledge but heart. If our heart’s not in it, it’s useless.

That’s the Gospel truth! The message of truth that Jesus preached. I am going to ask you to listen to Jesus’ words. I’m going to ask you to read through the Gospel of John. If you don’t have a Bible, look it up online. Take it one chapter at a time, more if you like. Ask God to help you fully understand it and ask Him to open your heart to knowing His heart and His Words, both filled with love and rebuke and if/then statements. Really, try this.

I’ve heard the complaint the Bible is only a book of dos and don’ts and this old book isn’t relevant for today’s culture. Baloney! It may seem that way but if one doesn’t know what good is and the consequences of doing bad, how will one learn? God laid a foundation in the Old Testament. There are laws and rituals laid out. We need to know that no man could ever keep those laws and still can’t. But Jesus came, as the Bible says,  

Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. (‭Matthew‬ ‭5:17-18‬)

No one is righteous, not one. But Jesus is. And through Him comes our righteousness. This is not just knowing who He is. He died for all mankind but righteousness only comes when one receives Christ. We take Him seriously in our hearts not minds. We receive Him and He lives in our heart, soul and mind. This is called being born again, a spiritual rebirth. Have you been reborn? Has your mind been renewed? Have you undergone a change of heart and mind? Does the Word of God excite you? It should.

It’s hard to convey the idea that all do not go to heaven. Actually, no one wants to hear this because no one wants to think it possible that a loved one is not there. I have gone through this thinking about my parents and grandparents. I wonder if they ever heard the Gospel before their passing. I know I talked with my dad and the situation is in God’s hands because he had Alzheimer’s. Ears can be stopped up and minds shut off to the truth. And God only speaks truths. Truth is not always palatable. But there’s still time for those who are still living. Including those who might be reading this and not born of the Spirit.  

So, not everyone is in a better place, as is so often spoken by someone at a funeral service. That is a hard word. We hear how giving, kind, compassionate, accomplished, successful they were. Maybe they went to church every week or more. It’s not about their works. Did they talk about Jesus? Did they live for Him? Did they say they were nothing without Him? Is the name of Jesus ever mentioned...apart from using it to cuss or show disdain? Oddly, enough, after I’d written this, set it aside, picked up my Bible, I read this! Psalm 16:2 states: O my soul, you have said to the LORD, “You are my LORD, my goodness is nothing apart from You.” How appropriate. With our heart and soul we call out to our Lord knowing we are not good in and of ourselves. We need Him, as the song goes, every hour. https://youtu.be/slvgJsCbR3w

Some would argue that God is good and wouldn’t keep anyone from eternal life. We are told in the Book of Romans we cannot receive Christ then live any way we wish. We still must obey laws, which have been outline in the Old Testament. We receive Him and become transformed, changed, hopefully to know God’s laws. We think differently and see things with a new, godly, perspective. This is why Christians are so put down at times. Why did I have to change, I’ve been asked. It just comes with having heard the Gospel, the good message or good news of what Jesus did for me/us. 

It’s all about Him, not me, not you, not an entertainer, athlete, politician. If any adoration (idolization) in any man is greater than in God, our priorities are messed up. I know! We can admire others but unless their lifestyle is not full of sex, drugs and rock and roll, I for one will admire from a very great distance. It’s the popularity that comes over them and turns them sour.

In further reading this morning (Exodus) I was reminded again about how it’s all about God. We cannot change ourselves but He can. Only in and through Christ Jesus. Phrases like, you shall see what I will do or I am the LORD, I will bring you out, I will rescue you, I will redeem you. It’s a work of God alone, not of ourselves...lest we boast in our accomplishments, which are of no effect. Our deeds are as filthy rags, He tells us. Only the one deed of Christ was enough. And the only deed of ours is to receive Christ, be born again.

Oh, I can imagine the disagreement here! This is the Gospel truth, according to God. It may seem harsh, but in the end it is a good message. If we give ourselves to God and look to Him, the battles are His. He carries our burdens. In our trials He strengthens us to get us through. And if it’s a struggle where we will not survive, our hope, our end, is secure because of Him. That is the ultimate good news; the good news, good message, I will cling to. All about what He did, does and will do if we put all our trust in Him and believe His hard words. 

1Corinthians‬ ‭1:18‬ ‭- For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

The Day God Came Down

Oh, come, let us adore Him! 

I woke up about 1:00AM. The Words “the day God came down” came to mind. I jotted them down and thought about them this morning. The intense meaning of it all. Greater than anyone can wrap their head around. 

John‬ ‭1:1-5‬ - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was WITH God, and the Word WAS God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made THROUGH Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was LIFE, and the life was the light of men. And the light SHINES in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. ‭‭

Do you know? Do you really know...that God came down from heaven in the form of an innocent little baby Boy? God came down. Let that sink in. HE came down.

HE came down. He who sits on His glorious heavenly throne. The One who created all things with no more than the sound of His voice. The One who is perfectly loving, holy and just. He humbled Himself to be among the much less-than-perfect that He might be seen and known, that we might be forgiven of sin, made children of God and given eternal life and be reconciled back with our Father in the heavenlies...through faith in this little baby Boy, with that powerful voice. Not faith in our works. Not faith in what we think is our own goodness. Faith in one Man...who CAME DOWN from the highest place to be among us.

He is still here beckoning all who will listen. All who will receive. All who will come to Him humbly as a little child. This Child that was in the very beginning WITH God as well as WAS God, who created, who brought life on earth and now wants to give eternal, spiritual life to ALL. He was born that He might die...for us.

This world is in very heavy darkness as we speak...at least for those without this Hope. And there still is hope. This hope is in Jesus. He is the ONLY hope. While this may not be the real season of His birth, we celebrate. We celebrate His life which can bring us life. While this IS the season we do celebrate, some can celebrate every day for His miraculous birth...and for the miraculous new lives He gives those who will receive. It’s not about all the presents. It’s about the gift. His gift, free to all who want to receive from Him.

He came down...for you and for me. For sinners, which includes ALL. Did you know, the first to see Him after He was born were the shepherds, not the kings! He calls the young, the old, male, female, rich, poor, any color, any race. ALL. All who will come humbly. Are you counted among those? Have you received a new life with the very God of the universe, the One who came down for you? If not, He’s waiting. It’s never too late, you’re never too sinful or proud. You can’t be filled with too much anger or hate. He receives ALL. Come, as another little child. Do not be afraid of the great tidings, the good news, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Listen to the words of Linus from the Charlie Brown Christmas movie. They are God’s Words!

Luke 2:10 - The the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people."

He Who Waits

Proverbs 18:18 - Whoever keeps the fig tree will eat it's fruit; so he who waits on his master will be honored.

It's all about the promises, promises, promises!

But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah‬ ‭40:31‬)

I and many others are awaiting the Lord! We are told that if we trust in Him and persevere through trials, trusting that abiding in Him will produce great things, we will not be disappointed in the end...whether that end is our death or His return. 

I read Psalm 62 today, too. Truly my soul silently waits for God; from Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved. My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. 

Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. ‭‭(Psalm ‭62:1-2,5-6,8‬) 

God is our only hope.

He promises to strengthen, deliver and redeem us...if we allow Him. If we seek Him. A friend and I were talking (again) the other day. We are so grateful to know Him and know His Word, enough anyway, and trust that He is being truthful in all He has said. 

As we wait we are to share Him. As we share Him we are doing His will...and we will be honored, as the first scripture says. An article I read suggested that we be the light in this dark 
world...and share Christ. Someone will hear and take note. If that happens and they respond favorably, God will add them to His eternal kingdom. I pray I am a light and used by the Holy Spirit. As the scripture says, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes... (Romans‬ ‭1:16‬)

Isaiah 49:23 - ...For they shall not be ashamed who wait for Me. 

The Good News Is...

Philippians‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭- Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

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To prevent the things of the world from causing chaos in our lives, we must stay focused on the things of God. Without this understanding we will fall into one of two categories. Either we will see the problems we all face with little hope and much despair or we will bury our heads in the sand, turning to things that will distract us from thinking about what we see or are experiencing.

There's another alternative. What I have suggested, what God suggests...that we stay focused on Him. Stay focused on His promises. Stay focused on what we know He has told us will happen but what He will do if we endure with Him to the end. He is the good news we need to hear about. There is only one true gospel message we can put all our hope, faith and trust in. He is what it is all about. It's not about me or politicians or businessmen or rock stars or Hollywood or sports figures or anyone else.

As I have occasionally tuned in to the Republican National Convention, I am often reminded of this. I have to look to God. We might hear things that sound good but how do we know for sure? Remember, this is man's agenda. It is about what man wants. Some of the things might be what Jesus wants, but Jesus plays no role in any of this...unless the candidate is a believer and follows Christ. 

We live in a very messed up world where evil is perceived as good and good evil. Only God knows the real intent of anyone's heart. And no matter who gets elected as our next president, God already today knows this. He will use this person to exact His will, just as He did in the Old Testament. There were kings who did what was right in the eyes of God and those who did evil. The good ones brought blessings to the people. The others did not. God's sole purpose is redeeming souls! If He has to use our country's leaders, He will. God get our attention by allowing difficulties. Through them we might just turn back to Him. 

In the Old Testament His people, Israel, were released from Egyptian captivity by His hand. They recognized it...for awhile...then forgot and went back to their old ways. So God withdrew and allowed enemies to win battles with them. Israel again prayed for God to help them and He did. This happened repeatedly. 

Lord, let this Light of the world be evident in these days. If things do not improve in this world, perhaps people's hope would if they knew the God of all creation...if people would humble themselves, call out to You. Not everyone has to be troubled. You would prefer that none would perish. Let more meditate on the goodness of Your Word and its promises. 

We are at a time when God is needed more than ever in this world filled with hatred and violence. Even in this country with our own 
share of the same. If we want to make America great again we need to humble ourselves before our God and ask for His help. Man alone is nothing. Will we see either of these happen? Not so sure. 

I have seen all the protesting, flag burning and unrest. Most of the time these people don't really know what they want. Here's what God has to say about that: The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings. (Jeremiah‬ ‭17:9-10‬)  People sow what they reap. 

I love that the Lord has promises. They are promises that will not be broken. They are for everyone willing to humbly submit to Him and call Him Lord. He is the only hope. Through Him we are free. It may not seem like it now, but when all is said and done, it will all make extraordinary sense to those who have trusted Him. 

Exodus‬ ‭13:3 - And Moses said to the people: “Remember this day in which you went out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out of this place. ...”

A Call to Repentance

Matthew 27:51 - Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split...

We know all the stories. And the stories remain the same. God never changes. He's the same today as He was yesterday and in the Old Testament and will be tomorrow. He calls us to repentance.

The Old Testament is chock full of accounts where His people, the Jews, Israelites, worshipped and relied on Him...then when things were going well they forgot Who provided for them and they did as they wanted, took Him for granted and lost sight of their LORD.

God would call them back and used judgment upon them to force them to their knees to seek His forgiveness and mercy again through repenting of their sins. God, being merciful, forgave them and they were blessed again. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2Peter 3:9) For awhile...until things were going well again and they again forgot Who provided for their needs. Again they did as they wanted and God's judgment would bring them to their knees.

So life goes on. So it is the same today. Sin still abounds, people still do as they please. Yet, like in the Old Testament, there was always a remnant of believers who keep their eyes on God, perhaps praying that the nation, the people would return to the God of the universe...Who has given us all things...something we so easily can lose sight of. And as I said, He never changes; He's the same today as yesterday; still merciful...if we repent and return to Him.

God calls us to a time of repentance as an individual, as a people, as a nation, as a church. No one is an exception. As in the Old Testament the people called on their God, today we adhere to the beliefs of the New Testament in which a Savior was introduced to us. This Savior was born to be the Mediator between God and man. In the Old Testament God wanted man to have direct access, communication and communion with Him, like He had with Adam. But the people were afraid of Him and asked that Moses be the mediator. So direct access to the Father there was not.

The Good News for today is the Gospel. The Gospel preaches Jesus Christ, our Mediator, our Great High Priest, who intercedes for those who call upon His name. We have direct access to God the Father through Jesus Christ and His work...His work...on the cross. This comes only through our own repentance of our sin and acceptance of Jesus Christ. No other way. He is the only way, truth and life.

The idea in this world is that we control our own destiny, heritage. That is a lie. That, in God's eyes, leads to death. Jesus died so we might have life. We must die also to have life. We die to selves. We give up the idea we can make it on our own.  Proverbs 16:25 shows this to us: There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. God's words. How much plainer can it get?

We are seeing some rough days today. I suspect they will get worse. God said this to wise Solomon:
When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place. (2Chronicles 7:13-15) 

If His people...His children...will seek His face. But why not enlarge that number? Become a child of God through Jesus Christ. It's the Gospel. Jesus is the only way to eternal life. He's the only way out of what lies ahead, even if we have to go through some difficult days because of the evil of others. He will be the only strength we have; without Him we do not have the strength.  Jesus Christ...the only way.

Acts 3:19 - Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord...

More Than Ever Before

Matthew 5:17 - Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

I love how Old Testament words often are so prophetic. I love how Jesus shows in the New Testament how He fulfilled those words.

I was reading in Hebrews 10 this morning. It described how the law demanded constant sacrifices by the people to atone for their sins...yet those sins were never taken away. What was the purpose of hundreds of years of sacrifices? Verse one says the law of that day was a shadow of the good things to come (Jesus). The purpose was to show through Old Testament events and accounts who Jesus would be when He arrived to be the New Testament. Old Testament, Jesus concealed; New Testament, Jesus revealed.

It is also clearly pointed out that none of the sacrifices was ever enough or they would have ceased. Hebrews 10:4 - For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

But God...made a way, the Way, in Jesus Christ. By His blood and righteousness.

I'm going to switch from Hebrews 10 to Psalm 40 where the words were first formed in the mouth of David through his prayer.

Psalm 40:6-8 was quoted in Hebrews 10 as words Jesus would have spoken. I became absorbed in this psalm. The words quoted were: Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require. Then I said, "Behold, I come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart."

Granted David spoke these words in the psalm, but little did he know he would have been speaking of the Messiah that was to come. Of course we read them and it's obvious who he was speaking of. In the scroll of the book it was written of Him! Do you see it? This is not all new to me, but I am excited to share this.

Earlier in Psalm 40 David says: He (the Lord) set my feet upon a rock, established my steps, put a new song in my heart...because He heard David's cry for mercy. Sounds like what Jesus does to those to believe. David goes on to say that those who trust in the Lord will be blessed. And He does not require sacrifices and offerings but that we do His will when we allow our ears to be opened to hear the truth of who He is and allow His law into our hearts.

These, people, are words--no, a song--of salvation! From the Old Testament...words that speak of Jesus and the perfect work of salvation He alone gives. They are words that are encouraging and freeing. We do not need to work for any of this. We just need to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and with the very depth of our heart and soul receive Him as our Savior. But it doesn't stop there. We then become disciples and do His work...HIS work, the works that are now deemed good.

Oh, how David continues by saying he is proclaiming the "good news" of God's righteousness. His lips cannot be restrained. This is Old Testament David speaking about Savior God, who has yet in David's lifetime come to become the last perfect sacrifice for all mankind. He is last sacrifice given for us all that we no longer need to work out our salvation through good works that do nothing because how much is really enough??

Today many still believe going to church is a sign of goodness. Some believe their philanthropic giving to very worthy, for sure, organizations will satisfy God's idea of goodness. Yes, we do good things in our lives, but when we do them in the name of Jesus, they are better. Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; burnt offering and sin offering You did not require. I delight to do Your will, O my God. We cannot work out our salvation on our own. Jesus did it for us. We need only earnestly seek Him.

David calls out to God that His lovingkindness and truth preserve him. Lovingkindness...in that He became the perfect sacrifice for our sins because He knew we could never attain the perfect sacrifice on our own. But God...could, through His Son Jesus. The willingness of one Man to do this for the sins of all mankind. And nothing we could do of our own would be enough. Nothing.

Oh, I'm sure I'm repeating myself....

David goes on to admit that his sins were innumerable...greater than the number of hairs on his head. Might I add, greater than the sand on earth. How many times have we committed the same sin, no matter how great or small, repeatedly in our lifetime? Imagine the immeasurable number of sins, past, present and those yet to come. You can't, can you? But Jesus knows them all. And He will forgive us.

Psalm 40:13 - Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; O LORD, make haste to help me! David's enemies were after him. We have an enemy too and he relies on our sins to botch up our lives. Let Jesus deliver from those sins. Let those who seek God rejoice and be glad for all He is wanting and able to do in the lives of those who truly do look for Him and learn His truths. He offers the hope of salvation. David unknowingly prophesied about that. David trusted in God, but knew not Jesus.

More than ever before this world needs to know that Jesus does save. Many will agree that this world is changing. Things we have little control of are happening in our own individual lives, too. Many in our country see that. I believe, well, I pray, in the next year or so even more will see the destruction that is coming...and how much closer, biblically, we are to Jesus' return. He does not require ongoing sacrifices to become a child of God; He only requires we seek Him and then are obedient to Him.

He desires that none should perish, although many will. For those of us waiting for His return, we pray that He come quickly...but it will be in His timing alone. More good news, there's still time to receive Christ. But I wouldn't wait too long.

Psalm 40:17 - But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinks upon me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God.

Good Word

Matthew 28:19-20 - Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.

As Christians we are all called to evangelism, as Jesus commanded above. If we do not evangelize, we are not obedient to God's Word. Ouch. Does that strike a bit of conviction or anger? Do we ask, who me? Do we say adamantly, we are not taught this in our church? Or do we proclaim our own version of doing the right thing by saying I do plenty for the church.

The end of John 13 talks about a new commandment...that we love one another as Jesus has loved us and that we share this love with others so that all will know we are His disciples. A new command: love...and disciple others. That commandment addresses the issue of loving others and sharin Jesus so that they will also receive the blessing and salvation that only He provides.

But I don't like doing that. As Christians we are all called to do so. As the days grow more difficult our world will be in greater need of a hope that is bigger than any one man or any government or world power.

Sunday at the Superstition Foothills Baptist Church, Pastor Nathan Heller, new to the congregation, spoke a powerful word about evangelism.

If we truly walk with the Lord we should have no fear of death. Jesus is by our side. He has gone on ahead of us about 2,000 years ago to prepare a place for those who call Him their Savior. There's the point: we must go through Him. No other man, no other thing will get us there.

Pastor Nathan brought up the true story of a family in Tucson who called him to speak with their ailing father. They could not break through to him. He had not given His life to Jesus. Could he help? When he spoke with the man he rattled off all the different churches he had attended, all the money he had given them, how he worked in various ways for these churches...and when he got to heaven he would tell God all about what he did.

Pastor Nathan said he was so wrapped up in what he'd done he could not hear him speak. He wouldn't listen. Without first giving our lives to Christ, there is no hope for heaven.

In John 14 Thomas listened as Jesus talked about His leaving and preparing a place for them. Jesus told them that where He would be, there they would also be...and where He would go they knew and they knew the way. Thomas voiced what could very well have been the unspoken thoughts of the others: we do not know where You are going and how can we know the way? Remember, Thomas doubted again later when he needed to touch Jesus' scarred hands. Aren't there times we all doubt? We doubt even the Word of God and its commands.

Jesus said to him: I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (verse 6). He is the only way to heaven. He...not things. We are to lift our eyes up and seek God for the answers. He will hear and respond to a heart that is sincere. The time to do that is now before we have to answer to God. Better to be on our faces before Him now than to fall before Him later when we think we will be able to justify our lives to Him.

Whenever Jesus said "I am" He proclaimed He was God. I am the way, the truth and the life...No religion, no church, no human...nothing, but through Him. Let that sink in. It's the absolute truth. The only truth relying on. All other things, works, church beliefs are nothing. Only Jesus is the way. And we must seek Him, invite Him into our lives, trust in Him for all things. It's all about Him.

Awhile later the son called Pastor again and requested he try once more and again the old man rattled off all the things he had done. And a third time he was called to meet with him; the doctors said he would not last the night; they would give him a shot to control his pain but there was very little chance he would awaken. Pastor Nathan met with him again. He told him it was time to ask Jesus to become his Savior. The man's answer was: When I awake we'll discuss it. End of story.

The time is now. We do not know what tomorrow holds. We do not even know what this day and night hold. I know that I called on the name of the Lord and was saved. I know that there is a lost and dying world at our doorsteps. I know that there are many who don't hold to the truth of accepting Jesus by faith only. I know there are many who think they'll never be good enough. Well guess what, none of us, no matter how good we think we are, are good enough. No matter how we believe our church is the right one...it's about a one on One relationship with Christ and that's it! It's about giving up all we think is right and good and humbling ourselves before an all powerful God and giving of ourselves to only Him.

It is our responsibility as Romans 10:14 tells us: How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? We have a responsibility as Christ followers to let people know. Plant seeds that can be watered and that God can nurture and grow. Am I planting any seeds here?!

Romans 10:13 (Joel 2:32) - For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."

Good News

Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.

Awhile back I read this scripture.   It caused me to set out to do a study on it.  Let me share my findings.  Let me share what God offers us.

We are to think on things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy.   

True:  Not concealed, not unaware of; not the world's version of true, but God's.  His Word is truth; His plans for us are good; His promises for us are great and precious.  (John 17:17; Jeremiah 29:11; 2Peter 1:4)

Noble:  Meaning good; covered above; reverend, worshipped

Just:  Meaning moral, truthful, honest, fair; without criticism, without judgment; righteous, virtuous, innocent, faultless; conformed to the Word of God, approved of God. (Romans 12:2)

Pure:  Wholesome things; sacred, modest, clean, most holy

Lovely:  Pleasant, agreeable, delightful, acceptable.

Good report:  Sounding well, uttering words of good omen; good news or the Good News.  God's Word is a good report.  (Hebrews 11:2)

Virtue:  Good quality, honest, moral, upright

Praiseworthy:  Admirable, creditable.  Like the good news report, not what we get through most secular media

All these words describe God.  It's all about Him.  It's not about us, it's not about the world, it's all about God.  Only He offers these things in the truest sense.  He is the Good News and offers Good News to each and every person.

How often does the news we hear everyday on television or radio give you the warm fuzzies? Most often we hear about disasters, murders, kidnappings, drugs, theft.  What's so good about this news?  But the news of Jesus Christ is all good.

There are good people.  There are honest people.  There are wholesome people, pleasant people, virtuous people.  Even if a person is all or one of these things, he is not without sin.  That's why there is the Good News of Jesus Christ:  The Good News is about His life on earth, His discipling of men and women, His teachings, His example to live by, His death and, praise God, His resurrection.  The Good News is He suffered unto death in order that we might be reconciled once again with God.

The attributes I mentioned above are what we are to desire for within ourselves as well as looking for in our relationships.  We are to relate to and treat others with these good attributes.  And, if we truly take the time to consider these things, our attitudes will begin to look like them.  

Consider the Good News of Jesus Christ, that which is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy. 

1Samuel:12:24 - Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.

Heavenly Father, in these days with so much negativity in the news and in the world, a good report is so welcomed.  I thank you that You have given us a good report.  All we need do is listen for it and take it into our hearts.  I thank You that You constantly call us into relationship with You.  It's not about religion or denomination, but relationship only.  How freeing a concept that is.  It is a true, just, pure and lovely concept.  And how wonderful that it is free to all who want it.  Lord, in these days ahead, I ask that You work in the hearts of those who think they know You because they go to church every week or believe themselves to be good people.  I ask that You show Yourself to them in a way that only they would understand and believe.  You desire that ALL men would come to You.  Let that also be the cry of my heart for all mankind.  Thank You, Lord, for the grace and mercy You give.  Thank You for your risen Son, Jesus.  Amen