January 17, 2007

A good news day

Today is good news day. First the good news from the Bible, reassuring me again regarding family and friends who are not yet part of the family of God. Acts 2 relates a sermon Peter preaches to the crowd that had gathered. At the end, “Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (because of) the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.’”

“As many as the Lord our God will call.” It is up to God. He wants me to pray, to be a credible witness in words and actions, but ultimately, anyone’s salvation is up to God who calls. This good news lightens my burden for others, and even makes praying easier.

Second, the good news about my husband. He had his every-3-months blood test this week and found out the results this morning. The numbers were down! That means either an error in October’s scary results, or God touched his body and reduced the cell count in answer to our prayers. Either way, I feel pounds lighter. As his doctor (a Christian) said, we can “carry on with life.” That weight removed makes carrying on much easier.

The ultimate good news is Jesus Christ. As Peter told them earlier in his sermon, Jesus was “delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God” and put to death, but “God raised (Him) up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it . . . This Jesus God has raised up!”

Because Jesus died for our sin and now is alive, those who put their faith in Him will also live, not merely for a long and rich life here, but for all eternity, with Him and without pain, sorrow or tears. No matter the news we received today, we have that great news which sustains us forever.

1 comment:

Valerie Dykstra said...

Praising God with you, Elsie.