Read Colossians 1:24-29.
The passage for this week speaks primarily of two things: (1) Paul’s ministry to present the gospel to the non-Jewish world (Gentiles); and (2) the gospel itself – that everyone, not just Jews, could receive the salvation that is in Christ. In a nutshell, it speaks of New News and Good News.
Have you ever heard the phrase, “No news is good news”? Of course you have. But it is defintely not true when it comes to the good news of the gospel. The new news is good news, that everyone can find hope in this world because the next world is made possible through Jesus Christ. WIthout this news, everything is bad news — NO news is BAD news.
Do you remember when you first heard and really understood the good news of the gospel? Recently Lyanne was talking with a friend of hers who grew up in a Christian home. She went to church every Sunday. She heard all the stories of the Bible. She did the right things, said the right things. But when she entered college, all of that changed. The stories she had heard, the lessons she had learned, the songs that she had sung just didn’t resonate in her heart. She chose to completely walk away from it all and start a “new” life on her own. She rebelled against her past and made some unwise choices under the banner of freedom. As is often the case with many like her, after several years she realized something was deeply missing. So she began attending church again, a sort of hesistant search into her familiar roots. A few weeks ago Lyanne received a text message from her saying she finally “got it” and that she couldn’t believe God loved her. God really loved her. This was New news to her, Good news. She is reading the Bible regularly, reading books, doing a Bible study – she just can’t seem to get enough. And so she is beginning an adventurous life in Christ that we pray will lead her to even more exciting insights into Christ and her life in Him.
Is the gospel still good news to you? Are you still captivated by the gospel of Jesus Christ? It is such good news, isn’t it? Take some time today to reflect on the mystery of the gospel. I pray that the excitement of your first real encounter with Jesus might continue as you walk your journey of faith.