*This was also supposed to post while I was in Jamaica. Gah.*
One more devotional that I wrote (for Kid’s Camp)? Ok!
“Extra! Extra! Read all about it!” There’s a reason why people selling newspapers yell out that phrase. There’s also a reason why they shout it out. They want everyone in the near vicinity to hear about their newspaper. Everyone should hear the latest news. Perhaps they shout because they genuinely care, or perhaps they shout so that they’ll get paid. The point is this: the news gets told. People buy the papers and read them while sipping coffee, riding the bus, waiting in line, and in a cab trying to get home. They are able to catch up on the latest political rallies, oil spills, wars, and celebrations. Whether it’s good or bad news, they’ll read about it.
When it comes to telling others about Jesus, there’s no “bad news” to tell. Everything about Him is good. He came, He died, and He rose. Many people know those things (and, chances are, you’ve heard the story of Jesus so many times that it’s lost its wonder and awe-factor), but few really grasp the amazement of the story. And if they do grasp it, they don’t share it. You’ve heard the saying, “If you had the cure to cancer, would you just keep it to yourself?”…well, no, of course you wouldn’t! It’s easy to roll our eyes and say that the example isn’t valid, but it really is. When it comes down to it, Jesus is better than the cure to cancer. Yet we keep Him to ourselves and don’t tell others about Him. It doesn’t add up, especially when we know what we’re supposed to do.
Acts 20:24 says, “But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.”
“So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord.” (1 Timothy 1:8a)
“It’s news I’m most proud to proclaim, this extraordinary Message of God’s powerful plan to rescue everyone who trusts him, starting with Jews and then right on to everyone else!” (Romans 1:16)
It doesn’t get any simpler than Mark 16:15 where it says, “Then he said, “Go into the world. Go everywhere and announce the Message of God’s good news to one and all.””
Are you begging God for another day to share His Good News? “Now I’m telling the world your wonders; I’ll keep at it until I’m old and gray. God, don’t walk off and leave me until I get out the news of your strong right arm to this world, news of your power to the world yet to come, Your famous and righteous ways, O God. God, you’ve done it all! Who is quite like you?”(Psalm 71:17)
• What keeps you from telling others about Jesus?
• List a few examples of how you can share the Good News through words and/or actions while at Kids Camp
• Is it harder to share about God and what He’s doing in your life at church, home, or school?
• Would you be able to clearly explain the Good News if someone were to ask you?
