I remember the day Lou proposed to me. He had already asked my dad for permission. My parents loved Lou. We had gone out to dinner that night and later in the evening, I could feel his heart beating as he asked me to marry him. I said YES and he put the most beautiful ring on my finger. I couldn’t wait to share this good news with everyone. I feel for those who are holding really good news but they have to wait to share it. Because we love sharing good news, right? And we also love hearing good news.
Two thousand years ago, in a field where shepherds were watching their flocks, an angel appeared and said, “I bring you Good News of GREAT joy.” And then a host of angels appeared to share this Good News. In fact, this wasn’t just good news, it was the GREATEST news ever. No other news holds a candle stick to this news.
Why is this news the GREATEST news ever? Because the angel was announcing to the world that Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah, had come to the earth. He had come to do for us what we could not do for ourselves. He had to come break the curse of the law – the curse of sin. He had come to rescue us from the condemnation of our sins. He had come to reconcile us to the Father. He had come to offer us eternal life. Can you think of ANY news greater than this?
Here's the thing, though. Our verse in Romans reminds us that since we are recipients of this Good News, we are to be instruments… tools that God can use to bring this news to the world. Tim Tebow says, “Once you have been rescued, you are now on the rescue team.” Good news is never meant to stay silent. It’s meant to be screamed from the mountaintop.
I believe that it starts with offering our bodies as sacrifices. Standing, or kneeling (I have a hard time getting on my knees and worse getting up) at the cross, and offering our bodies as instruments. Saying… “Lord, I offer to you my whole body - my mind, my heart, my hands, my feet to You. Use me today, Lord, to share this Good News with someone.” Trust me, when we offer our bodies to Him as an instrument, He will use it. I say “Thank You, Lord, for rescuing me. Help me to be Your instrument to rescue others.”