The Gospel is...

Trying to define the 'Gospel' can either be overly complicated or seem too simplified. I really enjoy Tim Keller's definition of the Gospel. I pray that you would also find it helpful.

"The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope."

Luke 2:10 - “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people."

Luke 4: 18-19 - “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners,
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

What does the Good News (Gospel) mean to you today?

Living in Grace

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We need some Good News

"Messenger of good news, shout to Zion from the mountaintops" - Isaiah 40:9

The past few weeks have been really tough from a ministry point of view - we have had to grieve with a number of families who have lost loved ones, as well as grieve with people who have been diagnosed with terminal illnesses. It has left me asking: "Where is the Good News?"

So, when I was prompted to turn to Isaiah 40 I was immediately struck by verse 9 - Messenger of Good News! Isaiah then carries on to speak of God's greatness and how he does hear us when we call out to him. These words were like a healing balm to my soul. Of course we also remember that Jesus is the greatest messenger of Good News for us. 

I pray that if you are feeling a little burdened and tired at the moment, that these words would be helpful:

"O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles? O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights?
Have you never heard?
Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
No one can measure the depths of his understanding."

Living in Grace

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Idolising the self

We live in an age where we are constantly posting updates, pictures and information online - most of this may pertain to others, but a lot can revolve around ourselves. While, there is nothing wrong with this, we need to be careful (as Christians), that we don't fall into a trap of self-idolatry. The line is very fine, but the real test is whether we find we 'need' the affirmation more and more, or whether it's just good to stay in touch with others. 

What sparked these thoughts was a line that I read today in The God of Surprises by Gerard W. Hughes - "To repent and believe the Good News is to turn away from self-idolatry and to let God be God in us..." 

Jesus calls us to love our neighbours as we love ourselves, so we can see that we are supposed to love ourselves on one level, but self-idolisation is crossing the line. 

Acts 17:16 - While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.

Any thoughts?

Living in Grace

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Will there be Good News?

 

We use the phrase 'good news' in many different contexts today. 

• Will there be good news about the petrol price?
• Will there be good news about the war in Ukraine?
• Will there be good news about Covid?
• Will there be good news about ......?

When Jesus offered himself to humanity, it was not so much what He could do for us that made it good news, but rather that He was the good news all wrapped up in one remarkable Person.

Luke 4:43 - But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”

·       William Loader - "The good news is about bringing life where there is death, love where there is hate, healing where there is brokenness."

Living in Grace

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Light in your eyes

A person's eyes can convey a message even before they have uttered a single sound. Have you ever seen that happen before? When reading through Proverbs today I was looking for words of comfort and hope and I found them in v.30 - it is the light in God's eyes that brings eternal hope to each one of us. Good news is such gift for all of us.  

“Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,
    and good news gives health to the bones.

Whoever heeds life-giving correction
    will be at home among the wise.

Those who disregard discipline despise themselves,
    but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.

Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord,
    and humility comes before honour.” – Proverbs 15:30-33

In these dark days, let us hold onto the hope that comes from knowing Jesus. He is the Good News we need for our hearts and lives.

“The good news is as epic as it gets, with universal theological implications, and yet the Bible tells it from the perspective of fishermen and farmers, pregnant ladies and squirmy kids. This story about the nature of God and God's relationship to humanity smells like mud and manger hay and tastes like salt and wine...It is the biggest story and the smallest story all at once" - Rachel Evans 

Living in Grace

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Truly Happy

There are many books written on how we can be "truly happy" in life. A lot of these speak about reaching our goals, living our dreams, achieving success or finding the right partner. It took David one line to recommend his success for the Blessed Life. This is his advice:

"The truly happy person
doesn’t follow wicked advice,
doesn’t stand on the road of sinners,and doesn’t sit with the disrespectful." - Psalm 1:1 (CEV)

If you wanted to read it in a slightly different version, try this one:

"Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
    or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers." (NLT)

I suppose the good news in this case is that we are clearly given a choice to be BLESSED, HAPPY, JOYFUL. Our choices will have a direct bearing on whether or not we will walk in God's Way or the potentially dangerous way of others. 

Living in Grace
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Don't shoot the messenger

In days gone by, when messages were sent by a 'real' human messenger, it was common for the bearer of bad news to be killed on the spot. Needless to say, there were not queues of people signing up to be messengers for the King. However, in the end, the messenger had to deliver the message, regardless of the outcome.

We are asked to be Messengers of our Lord and King, and sometimes we will get 'shot down' or ridiculed for the message we share. We can plead with people not to "shoot the messenger", but in the end, it is the Good News that needs to reach the ears of all people.

Let us resolve not to worry about the reaction of those to our message - after all, it is the message of the King we are relaying - it is not our own message.

Luke 13:34 - “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.

John 13:20 - "I tell you the truth, anyone who welcomes my messenger is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me.”

Living in Grace
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I am desperate for some Good News!

If you are anything like me, then you are desperate to hear some Good News. This past week has been horrendous on planet Earth. It is almost as if one can't imagine things getting worse, and then suddenly they DO get worse! Man, I am dying for some good news.

Reflecting a little on the events of South Africa, Orlando, France, Sudan, and the Middle East, I am even more convinced that we need to hear that God loves us and that God's Kingdom is a reign of Peace and not war. I have been saddened by the comments of a few 'Christians' on social media who have taken over God's job as 'JUDGE' and have superimposed their own feelings onto the tragic events of our planet.

In my opinion (and I am open to correction), one of the most influential passages in our Gospel's comes from John's account of the life of Jesus. This is what he says:

"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." - John 3:17

Romans 3:22-26 - "We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
²³ For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. ²⁴ Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. ²⁵ For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, ²⁶ for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus."

I hope this is GOOD NEWS for all of us today.
Living in Grace
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Bearer of Good news - Lent #13

"Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,   
and good news gives health to the bones." - Proverbs 15:30

The story of Easter is always about good news. Jesus Christ is the ultimate messenger and he comes into our world with 'light in his eyes.' The message of grace and love brings joy to our heart and gives us new life. I am not sure about you, but I always find that 'good news' gives health to my weary soul. It also brings a spring to our step and makes life seem so much better :)

But, when was the last time you heard some good news?
Is it possible that you could be the bearer of good news for some one else today?

"Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news. The good news is that you don't know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is!" -Anne Frank

Living in Grace

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