11-2-2019

Good Morning All,

   Isaiah 61: 1-2; “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,”

    I was returning from a visit when I heard the song on the radio.  It is an “oldie but a goodie” as the saying goes.  Granted, it is more than 35 years but it still speaks the words that our hearts often feel “We sure could use a little good news today.”  That is the tag line of Anne Murray’s 1983 song “A little Good News”.

    It always fascinates me when I listen to these types of songs, songs that lament the condition of our society that it really doesn’t matter how old the song is; it basically could be sung today.  Outside of dating the song by the names used “Bryant Gumbel is talking about fighting in Lebanon” could be “Savanah Guthrie is talking about fighting in Syria”; it feels like it is truly the same song second verse, could be better but will probably be worse.  We could use a little good news today.

    I have good news for you; you are a redeemed child of God to whom eternal life in the perfected creation has been promised.  Every day there are people who hear this good news and are lifted up from the poverty of their spirit and given hope.  Every day relationships are trying to heal because those two or three people sat down and prayed before they talked about their troubles.  Every day people who have enslaved themselves to pettiness and selfishness are being freed by the grace of Jesus.  Every day there is a recovering addict who has made it one more day from being bound by the addiction that once had them so bound that they did not know which way was up.  Every day, Jesus matters.  Every day, you matter to Jesus.

    So take heart, Jesus has won it all and it will come to completion when he returns.  So be thankful where and when you can.  God is doing wonderful things around you and for you if you will only stop and look.  It might be the love of a spouse or a child or a grandchild; it might be a visit from a friend; it might be in the fellowship of your fellow believers but God is doing something good for you today.  The devil and the world want you to look down and see only the dirt and the narrow view.  God invites you to look up and see the glory of his creation and the grace of his hand.  We have a lot of good news; we have Jesus!

    So when you go to church tomorrow, don’t lament the empty pews; celebrate the full ones.  Don’t be disheartened by the 15 people who skipped Bible study; give thanks for the 6 who shared together with you.  In both these situations, God’s love, forgiveness, peace and hope were shared with you and those around you.  God good news goes out; it never comes back empty but always accomplishes it goal.  A little good news, we can fill a library with our good news!  Jesus is Lord and he has given us the victory!

Gracious Father, your good news goes forth bringing hope to those who hear it.  Lift up your people and give them the vision to see your hand and your grace in their lives.  Be with those who are struggling to see; encourage them with your Spirit.  In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret