The Good News!

Today I read Acts 5-15, and I must confess that I was pretty tired this morning. This was day 2 of arriving at Starbucks by 6, so that I could read and hop over to work by 7, and I lost focus quite a bit.

I've really enjoyed going from Matthew into Acts. A couple of the things that caught my attention - Saul/Paul's conversion, and "the good news!" We should start with the good news because it leads right into Paul's conversion.

I just want to start by saying the phrase good news is a warm and fuzzy spot for me. When I was in grade school I went to Good News Club. Like I said before I heard this "good news" when I was very young, and I asked Jesus to come into my heart - just how my Grandma put it, who prayed with me. And can I say this is more than good news, it's GREAT news! FANTASTIC news! This is not on life-saving, but life-changing news. Read below, and get excited:

Acts 10:34-43

New International Version (NIV)

³⁴ Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism ³⁵ but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. ³⁶ You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. ³⁷ You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

³⁹ “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, ⁴⁰ but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. ⁴¹ He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴² He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

This good news, this transforming power that came through the resurrection of Christ is what changed Paul's life. Paul wasn't just your average Jewish Joe Schmoe hanging out at the synagogue - he was a hard core, Christian persecutor/murderer, leader of the Jews. And he was radically changed by the Holy Spirit - if you've never read Acts and about Paul's conversion, it's a must read! This man would have studied the scriptures all of his life, and known the law just as well, if not better, than everyone else but could not deny his encounter with God.

I get down sometimes, and life doesn't make sense... but I can never deny how I've encountered the living God. I've "tasted and seen" His goodness and His power, and not just in my own life, but in others lives around me as well. Praise God for His redemption of ALL people! A little gentile like myself becoming a co-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17).

I don't know if anyone reads my blog... but sweet friends, if you're not sure about this good news, or where you stand with God. Please consider it! There's nothing more intimate than a journey with your Creator!