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What Should We Do with the Good News?

This is the final chapter in the short book I’m co-writing. The book presents the gospel in an understandable way. I'm interested in your evaluation...

By the way, I’m especially happy that the readability statistics for this book score at a fifth grade level. It’s not easy for a scholar trained in technical theological language to write for a wide audience!

As a summary, here are the subjects of the previous four chapters:

1)     The Christian Good News of Love

2)     A Loving God Creates

3)     The Problems in Life and their Sources

4)     Jesus Christ Overcomes Our Problems

This fifth and final chapter explicitly asks readers to make a decision about the good news of God’s love. It also talks about Christian community and the gifts and fruit of the Spirit. The chapter concludes with an invitation to share this good news with others.

Please offer comments about this chapter or the book in general!

 

Chapter Five -- What Should We Do With This Good News?

There is no better news than the news in this book.

Were someone to declare that vast wealth would be yours, this news would not compare to the good news of God’s love. Were you told of future fame, power, or pleasures, such news would pale in comparison to the news of God’s love. Even life itself is not as important as love.

Nothing compares to knowing God loves you and to loving God and others as yourself!

Receive the Good News

So what should you do in response to this good news?

Receive it! Accept it! Act on it!

Let the good news of God’s love orient your life. Let it become your first, foremost, and all-encompassing truth. Let God’s loving leadership be the center.

Most people pray to begin accepting God’s loving leadership. Some ask God to forgive them. Some seek God’s healing. Some people express their fears, frustration, and confusion. Some let go of their problems and ask God for help.

Just about any prayer is appropriate. Words are not as important as the desire to accept God’s love and live in it. God knows our deepest thoughts even when words are not fully adequate. God accepts everyone.

You may want to put down this book and pray. In fact, we encourage you to do so. It may be the most important thing you will ever do.

Right now, accept God’s love and commit yourself to living a life of love.

Living a Life of Love

The Bible often calls accepting and receiving God’s love “believing.” Two of Jesus’ followers, Paul and Silas, put it this way: “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved” (Acts 16:31).

By “believe,” they mean more than affirming ideas about Jesus. They mean committing our lives to receiving God’s love and living like Jesus. “Believing” involves accepting God’s loving leadership both now and throughout life.

Often in this book, we said love is the heart of the good news. Love is the central theme of the Bible and Jesus’ central message. In fact, Jesus said two commands sum up our basic instructions for living:

1.     Love God with everything that you are.

2.     Love your neighbors in the way you love yourself (Mark 12:28-34).

 When we do these things, we cooperate with God in bringing about the salvation God intends for everyone. We enjoy the good life that following Jesus provides. We join in the work God is doing in our world.

Following Jesus means imitating him. Jesus loved God, and he loved others as himself. Jesus loved friends and those who considered themselves his enemies. He loved family members and strangers. He lived a life of hospitality. Jesus’ self-giving love is our ultimate example.

God empowers us to love like Jesus. Without God’s power, we cannot love. But with God, love is possible.

We should embrace a life of love.

Living the Good News Together

Living a life of love is not something we should do alone. Following Jesus is something we do alongside others.

Those who follow Jesus are part of a worldwide family of believers called “the church.” Followers of Jesus meet in groups to seek and promote the good life to which God calls.  God wants us to live in loving community with others who follow Jesus.

In the Bible book of John, we find a prayer Jesus prays for his followers. He says:

   “Father, you give the good life to all who know you and me. I have made your name known to the world. As you have sent me into the world, so I send them.”

   “I ask that they become one, so the world may believe you sent me. And I ask that you make them one, so the world will know you love them even as you love me.”

   “I have made your name known to them -- and I will continue to make it known -- so the love with which you love me may be in them” (John 17).

Jesus cares about his followers. He wants them to thrive in community as the church. In the John’s book, Jesus teaches his followers these things: 

   “I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who live in me and I in them bear much fruit. Apart from me, you can do nothing.”

   “As the Father has loved me, so I love you. Live in my love.”

   “If you keep my commands, you will live in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and live in his love.

   “This is my command: love one another as I have loved you” (John 15).

The majority of the Bible was written by and for Jesus followers. As the church, Christians come together to follow the life-giving command to live in God’s love.

A number of activities help Jesus’ followers grow in God’s love. You have already done one: you prayed.

Christians pray alone and together. They study the Bible and learn from other holy resources. They frequently receive the bread and juice of the body and blood of Jesus. They sing praises and worship. Christians share their joys and sorrows, talk about temptations and spiritual victories, and encourage one another. They help one another and those not yet in the church.

When we respond to God’s empowering love, we find God healing the world, our communities, and our lives. When we meet together, the world and we become better.

In the church, the power of love grows exponentially!

God’s Loving Spirit Active Today

God’s love has always been active in the world. When the community of Jesus’ followers emerged, God revealed love in even more powerful ways. God, who is an invisible and universal spirit, empowers them.

Christians call God’s empowering activity “the work of the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus told his followers they could do greater things than he had done (John 14: 12-13). This is possible because God as the Holy Spirit empowers the church.  Whenever those who follow Jesus’ way of love gather together, the Spirit is present in a special way.

One special event occurred when Jesus’ followers met together in Jerusalem soon after Jesus had departed his earthly body. The Bible book of Acts reports this event:

The followers of Jesus were meeting together. Suddenly, a sound like the rush of a violent wind filled the entire house where they were sitting. The Holy Spirit filled them all, and they began to speak in other languages.

This dramatic event puzzled the people of Jerusalem. They heard Jesus’ followers speaking in various languages. They wondered if they had been drinking too much wine.

One of those present – Peter – explained what was happening. “God is pouring out the Spirit on everyone who will receive!” he said.

After describing some of the ways people might act when God’s loving Spirit empowers them, Peter said, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

This was not the end of his Peter’s speech. He also explained God’s action in history and especially Jesus.

Peter concluded, “Change your hearts and lives. Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ so your sins may be forgiven. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise of new life is for you, your children, and for all who are far away – in fact, it is for everyone whom God calls” (Acts, chapter 2).

God’s gift of his own Spirit brought together Jesus’ followers as the church. They devoted themselves to learning together, eating together, prayer, sharing things in common, and giving to the poor. Amazing things – signs and wonders – occurred as the people responded to God’s empowering love!

Amazing things continue to happen today when we respond to God’s empowering and inspiring love. People are set free from addictions. Some are healed now, while others await full healing after they die. God removes the guilt of sin. God restores broken relationships and mends wounded hearts. Many feel the joy that comes from living life abundant.

God does miracles as we respond to the Holy Spirit!

The Gifts and Fruit of the Spirit

We have seen that God as Holy Spirit is active in all creation. God calls us – no matter our race, gender, looks, or intellect – to do good.

But there is even more good news: God gives abilities, talents, and capacities. Paul talks often about these gifts. He says we should use them to increase the common good.

When talking about the gifts from the Holy Spirit, Paul makes a comparison. He says we each have one body. But our bodies have many different parts, each with different functions.

Similarly, there is one worldwide community of people who follow Jesus Christ. That community is the body of Christ. But each person has been given different talents, abilities, and capacities. Each person plays a part in the body. The one body is most effective when each member uses his or her unique gifts.

Some people are good at warning others of potential problems. Other people serve extraordinarily well. Some are gifted teachers. Some excel in encouraging others. Some people have special talents in generosity. Others are natural leaders. Some people are models of cheerful kindness. There are many different kinds of gifts.

People are different, and their gifts differ.

No matter what the gifts, all people should “hate what is evil,” says Paul. They should “cling to what is good.” The gifts of the Spirit help us “be devoted to one another in love” (Romans 12:3-10).

The Bible provides other lists of gifts. These gifts reveal that God’s Spirit guides us to work for the common good.

For instance, some people are given the gift of wisdom. To others, the Spirit gives great knowledge or faith. Some have special gifts for healing and miracles. Some people discern good and evil well. Others speak in unknown languages, and others interpret them.

“All these are the work of one and the same Spirit,” says Paul. God distributes these gifts to us (1 Corinthians 12:7-11).

Not only does the Spirit give gifts to those who follow Jesus. But the lives of those who respond well to the Spirit’s activity show the positive results of love. These results are the fruit – the effects – of the Spirit.

God calls us to love. The Spirit give us joy, it urges us to promote good life. The Spirit helps us be patient, kind, and generous. These are the fruit of the Spirit.

One of the most important things the Spirit does is help us control ourselves. We must have self-control so that we do not orient our lives toward gratifying our own desires.

Unfortunately, some people do not respond well to the Spirit’s leading. They disobey. They seek to gratify their own desires.

Paul lists problems that arise when people reject God’s loving leadership. For instance, they sometimes have sex with those to whom they are not married, they act impurely, they waste good resources, they idolize created things, they seek power in witchcraft, they start fights, wars, and quarrels, they unnecessarily divide themselves from others, they get drunk and celebrate irresponsibly, or they waste their time on stupid activities.

Those doing these things are not living under God’s leadership!

Paul says we who follow Jesus must live according to God’s loving Spirit. We must let the Spirit guide us to follow Jesus and not our sinful desires (Galatians 5:13-25).

Sharing the Good News with Others

You should share the good news you have read. News like this should not be kept secret.

There are many ways to share this good news. In fact, there are not enough books to describe God’s love and how we can share it.

The Bible lists several ways. These lists help us in practical ways. Some lists describe leadership roles and activities. Other lists offer guidelines for living. These guidelines help us discern what love might require (Luke 6:1-11; Romans 13:8-10).

We want to conclude this book with two general ways you might share the good news of God’s love.

One way involves helping those with problems. Jesus was asked what it means to love our neighbors. He told this story in response:

   “A man was going from Jerusalem to Jericho. But on his way, he was robbed. The thieves stripped him of his clothes and beat him. They left him half-dead.”

   “A religious leader happened to be going down the same road. When he saw the man half dead, he passed by on the other side.”

   “A law-abiding citizen also came down the road. He saw the half-dead man and also passed by on the other side.”

   “But a stranger came where the man was. When the stranger saw the robbed and beaten victim, he had compassion. He went to him and bandaged his wounds. He put him on a donkey, took him to an inn, and took care of him.

   “The next day, the stranger gave some money to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ the stranger said, ‘and when I return, I will repay you for any extra expense.’

After telling this story, Jesus asked his listeners, “Which of these men do you think loved the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

The listener answered, “The one who had compassion on the beaten man.”

To this correct response, Jesus said, “Go and follow his example.”

This story tells us that one of the best ways to share the good news of God’s love is to help those with problems. Sharing the good news can mean acting in generous and compassionate ways.

In fact, Jesus said we should do to others the loving things we want them to do to us (Luke 6:31). Sometimes that includes loving strangers and enemies (Matthew 5:38-48). Sometimes it involves loving family and friends. Sometimes it includes forgiving those who have wronged us. Often it means helping those with problems.

The second general way to share the good news involves speaking. It involves telling others what you have learned.

At the conclusion of his book in the Bible, a follower of Jesus named Matthew tells of Jesus’ final meeting with his followers. Jesus’ last words were these:

   “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and help others in all nations learn to love. Encourage them to follow me. Baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything I have commanded.

   “And remember,” said Jesus, “I will always be with you – to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Sometimes sharing the good news involves telling stories of God’s love. Those stories witness to God’s ability to help us. They remind us that God is always with us. God leads us to a good life, if we follow God’s leadership.

Sometimes sharing the good news involves teaching. Sometimes encouragement. Sometimes it means explaining God’s love in helpful ways.

There are many ways to share the good news. This news is too good to keep silent!

So… What Happens Now?

We invited you to accept God’s loving leadership.

Actually, we think God is really the source of this invitation. We are simply following God’s loving leadership by writing this book for you. It is really God who invites you to accept his loving leadership and to begin a life of love.

If you have done that, you should be excited! The Bible says all heaven is excited when people accept this good news!

The most important next step is to find others who follow Jesus. As soon as possible, find a church community. Others can help guide you in the Christian life. Do this quickly, because you need help from others and you have a part to play in the body of Christ.

If you have a Bible, study it with others. This can help you learn how best to respond to God’s loving leadership. You will never understand everything in the Bible, of course. But you can learn more about God’s love and what God desires.

Christians do many things to respond positively to God’s love. They give generously. They worship together often. Christians help the poor and those with problems. They take the bread and juice to celebrate Jesus death and resurrection. They share the good news with others.

Christians also often pray. We encourage you to do that. Tell God your problems and joys. Ask God for guidance. Seek courage from God. And when you pray, listen for the Holy Spirit’s nudging to lead you to live a good life.

Living in God’s love means your life changes. But it is change for good!

Welcome to God’s family!

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Posted in 2010 under ...and the Kitchen Sink

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