(Photo by Selma Komisky)

Bring the Good News!

By Kyle Jane Heskett

We seem often to be surrounded by bad news. There’s bad news about politics, bad news about health, bad news about family and friends, or bad news about finances. In fact, watching or reading the news makes me feel down and out. While it’s important to stay informed about the world and we cannot avoid bad news all the time, if we let ourselves be consumed by it, we are missing the point of our very existence. Our very existence is to remember and proclaim the good news; that is the message of Christ Jesus.

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

– 1 Peter 2:9

Many believe that the book of 1 Peter was written as encouragement to suffering believers. During this time, Christians were persecuted for their faith and were forced to scatter out of Jerusalem and throughout Asia Minor. That was the bad news. The good news is that Jesus provides light in the darkest of times. God’s people were able to hold on to hope during this time. Also, due to people being forced to flee, the gospel spread like wildfire. When we belong to Christ, we get to be the bearers of this light in a world that needs this good news so desperately.

When I think about our current social climate, and all the fear and negativity that understandably arises, I also try and think about ways to keep Christ’s light and show it to others. Peter reminded his readers in his book that their hope is in God (1:21), that they are to continue to love one another (1:22), and to become more like Christ so others see who He is (2:11-12).

I personally am tired of contributing to the chaos that is so easy to fall into. I’ve done it enough in my life, and I know I’ll do it again, but I’m starting to see the destruction it poses to not only myself, but others as well. I think about this in terms of the recent Coronavirus pandemic. What would happen if we all thought about our hope in God and our love of others, and not hoard grocery store essentials? Everyone would be able to get what they need because there is plenty to go around. Perhaps that would add a little more peace in someone’s life. And what about taking just a moment out of our busy and frantic days to connect with someone who may need companionship? I wonder what a difference a little will make at this time if we all stepped up as believers and declared His goodness.

I believe that the peace and hope of the gospel has the power to change lives, whether in big or small ways. We cannot forget the good news, and we cannot hoard it for ourselves. Ask yourself how God would like you to share it today, this week, this month. Maybe it is as simple as a smile to a neighbor, or maybe it is letting go of yourself to serve someone else. However it may look, the world around us could sure use it.