"But, it's TOO EASY....."

Psalm 102:12-28 (NRSV)
Prayer for healing

What a mighty God we serve! Today’s psalm of praise reminds us that God-All-Powerful is Lord over heaven and Earth! Isn’t that GOOD NEWS?

I’m glad that I don’t have to be in charge of the Earth, the seas, the lands, the animals, and all the people of the Earth. I’m glad that I am but a steward over my little sphere of influence. I’m glad that my only assignment is to faithfully represent the Kingdom of God on Earth, until God comes from Heaven.

As a representative of the “ruler” of Heaven and Earth and an Ambassador of the Kingdom of Love, I am to make God’s name known as I love God with all my heart, mind, soul and strength, and love my neighbor as myself. As I go about taking care of God’s creation and tending to God’s “garden,” I am to point people to The One who made all that is good and who loves all who are alive. Today’s psalm says, “Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet unborn may praise the Lord…”

People yet unborn…that means my children’s children and your children’s children. What will our great-great-great-grandkids know and proclaim about the goodness of the Lord? Have you been proclaiming GOOD NEWS with boldness? Have you made Jesus famous amongst your children, friends, neighbors, co-workers, or others in your sphere of influence? Have they fallen in love, with the lover of their souls, because of your good testimony?

If not, it’s never too late to share GOOD NEWS! You can begin right now to tell somebody just how good God is. You can share with them one or two experiences of a time you experienced God’s love in a special way. You can tell them about the Christian lullaby Mama used to sing, the Bible camp you attended as a child, your baptism in a chilly river, your deliverance from drugs or alcohol, or your healing from an illness so grave the doctors wrote you off.

See people tell me that sharing GOOD NEWS is too hard! I wholeheartedly and respectfully disagree, my friends. If it was hard, we human beings would love to do it! I know this is true because we never fail to do the hard things that will bring us glory! We’ve journeyed to the moon, scaled the highest mountains, and hiked across the desert. Why? We do these things with zeal because it makes our name famous.

Let me tell you the real reason that I believe most people have trouble engaging in the work of evangelism—or sharing the GOOD NEWS! It is because it is too easy. Telling somebody how Jesus has loved you brings glory to no one accept God and that is entirely countercultural. If we are going to do something, we generally want the benefits to accrue to us. In the case of sharing GOOD NEWS the benefits accrue to another—God and the one who receives the GOOD NEWS!

Let us take up the very easy task of telling somebody that God loves them and that God proved it by dying on Calvary’s cross. Let us share with somebody one good thing that God has done in our lives and let us not count the cost, but look forward to the eternal rewards!

Is there somebody in your family that you need to share GOOD NEWS with today?

Eternal One, you are Lord and Ruler over all the galaxies and everything in them. Help us to make your name famous everywhere we go! We want our children’s children yet unborn to declare your glory. Forgive us for the times we have remained silent, when we should have spoken. You are awesome and we love you! In Jesus Name, Amen.

*The entire scripture reading for today can be found by clicking the ELCA Daily Bible Reading Tab to the right.

*from Pastor Yolanda's blog http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/

*EACH ONE--REACH ONE! To share GOOD NEWS with a friend please click the "Share With Friends" button to the right! Thanks for reading and please come again.

*Pastor Yolanda extends a very special welcome to our friends reading outside of the United States of America! We are honored that you are sharing with us today.

Summary in Spanish--provided by a reader in Chile--Danilo Isla

Dejame decirte la verdadera razón por la cual creo que mucha gente tiene problemas al ocuparse de la obra del evangelismo o al compartir las ¡BUENAS NUEVAS! Esto porque es muy simple. Decirle a alguien como Jesus te ha amado, trae gloria al que no acepta a Dios. Esto le desagrada a mucha gente que quiere engrandecer sus nombres, más que engrandecer el nombre de Dios!

Hoy, ¿Por qué no tomas la fácil tarea de decirle a alguien que Dios le ama y lo provó muriendo en la cruz?

Eterno, Tú eres Dios y Soberano sobre todas las galaxias y todo lo que en ellas hay. Ayudanos a hacer tu nombre famoso donde sea que vayamos! Queremos que los hijos de nuestros hijos aún no nacidos declaren Tu gloria. Perdonanos por las veces en que hemos permanecido callados, cuando debimos haber hablado. Tú eres maravilloso y Te amamos! En el nombre de Jesus, Amén.