Good News!!!

How convinced are you that the message of Jesus is the Good News that can transform the hearts of people and change the world? It really does start with our own heart and our own mindset on how much we believe that Jesus is the Good News.  Have you really allowed God to change your heart or have you always really been a decent person and Jesus is just a part of that life.  For the Apostle Paul, he knew that his encounter with Jesus was completely life altering. He was consumed with hate and Jesus met him on the road to Damascus and completely changed him from the inside out.  Because of that transformation Paul wanted everyone to have the same encounter with Jesus that he had so they could also be transformed.  In chapter 9 of his letter to the church in Corinth, Paul is sharing his passion for reaching the lost and broken people of the world with the Good News!  He says many things in this chapter but I just want to point out two simple phrases:

1.  We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ. (1 Corinthians 9:12b) 
What are you willing to put up with to win with Christ?  Do you have this type of attitude or are you always wondering what it in it for me?  How can we be an obstacle to the Good News?  If we can be an obstacle, the good news is we can also be a barrier breaker for people so they can receive the Good News.  We can be an avenue for God's Spirit to reach the hearts of the lost and broken of the world.


2. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. (1 Corinthians 9:22b)  We won't be the one person that God uses to reach everyone, but we can do our best to be available to be used by God to reach as many as possible.  How do you try and find common ground with people?  Are Christians more likely to find common ground or alienate people with our opinions and our truth?  How do we do everything we can do to save some?  

The Good News - Gospel - of Jesus is good!  We need to share with others how God has changed us with the message of Jesus.  If we don't have a transformation encounter with Jesus - start praying for one so the Good News can also transform your life.