The Good News
May 31, 2023
And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” Romans 10:15 NLT
The word “gospel” means “good news.” So, when we talk about the gospel of Jesus Christ we are talking about the good news of Jesus.
When Paul talks about the “them” who need to hear the good news, he is speaking of all those who don’t yet know about Jesus. On our planet today, there are approximately 2.8 billion people who do not yet know the good news of Jesus. Some of those people are our next-door neighbors. Some of them are our not-so-close neighbors, like the beautiful people in Ecuador.
When Paul asks the question, “How will anyone go and tell them without being sent?”, he asks rhetorically, because Jesus-followers have already been sent. The last words of Jesus before He returned to heaven were sending words: “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20 NLT). This is our responsibility and privilege. It’s the reason we don’t go to heaven immediately when we received Jesus as our Savior. We are needed here to share the good news with those who don’t yet know.
When Paul exclaims, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring the good news!”, he is speaking from personal experience, as well as the witness of history. No one is more loved and remembered than the person who brings good news. I see this re-enacted fairly often. My three-year-old grandson is an absolute fan of his daddy. When he sees a glimpse of his dad’s car coming down the street or hears the garage door start to open, he drops everything he is doing and runs screaming, “Daddy’s home!” This good-news delivery endears him to everyone and spreads joy like confetti.
When we share Jesus, we become dearly loved messengers of hope, joy, and good news. When it is accompanied by the practical gifts for life that our resources enable, gratitude is overwhelming. The greatest joy of my life has been that experience. I have lifelong friends around the world who name me as one of their “most beautiful people” because I shared the good news of Jesus as a sponsor, as a helper come to their village, or as a regular prayer partner and contact. There’s nothing like it. Good news! You get to do that now!
- Decide how you will get beautiful feet through Compassion.