Is there any Good News left today?
We need to preach the Gospel to ourselves everyday.
In order to fully appreciate the Good News of Resurrection Sunday, we have to accept our part in the reality of the cross. You and I were created to live in peace and unity with God, but we have all sinned. In one form or many, we have all rejected God’s plan and authority in our lives. Our selfish rebellion condemns us to a life often filled with stress, shame and anxiety that ultimately lead us to a hopeless death. These are not words we want to hear, let alone admit are true.
“God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.” Psalm 53:2-3 (ESV)
To appreciate what Jesus has done for us, we have to first humbly admit that we have blown it and desperately need help. I am guilty and there is a price to pay for my sin! That is bad news and unfortunately many people will never experience the Good News because they refuse to acknowledge and accept the consequences of sin.
God however, in His rich mercy and love for us, sent Jesus to give up his life to save yours and mine. Peter says that Jesus himself bore our sins in his body on the cross so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds we are healed. (1 Peter 2:24). Victoriously, Jesus did not remain in the grave. He conquered sin and death when He rose from the grave on the third day!
“Jesus said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations,” Luke 24:46-47 (ESV)
You and I are so deeply loved by God that He made a way for us through Jesus to be forgiven and reconciled with Him. When we can admit our sin and believe who Jesus is and what He has done for us, then despite the craziness of the world around us, we have a living hope and peace with God for this life and the next. That is Good News!
Upcoming Training in Colombia
April 14-23, 2023
We are looking forward to our Colombia Pastoral Couples Training in just a couple of weeks. Our team of eight (Pastor Don and Claudia Erickson, Pastor William and Ruth Evaristo, Pastor Bob and Joyce Werntz and Pastor Rick and Diana Lowe) will focus on the theme of Living Faithfully In The Midst Of Suffering found throughout 1 Peter.
Our world is broken and ministry leaders and their marriages are under tremendous stress and attack. Peter’s reminder that we have a living hope encourages us to keep our eyes upon the resurrected Jesus Christ and to live faithfully in the midst of the trials. We pray that God will allow us to encourage and equip this group of Colombian ministry leaders to live victoriously in the daily challenges that they face.
Ways You Can Pray!
- Pray that the message of hope and love shared throughout the world this Resurrection Sunday would break through the walls of pride, anger, discouragement and despair to save many through belief in Jesus and all He has done for us.
- Please pray for the presence, counsel and grace of the Almighty Lord to be clearly experienced by each of the participants in the Colombia training.
- Pray for God’s wisdom for each teacher to be able to speak all that the Lord has ordained through the teaching sessions and that the participants would have ears and hearts to hear His words for them.
Have a blessed celebration of the Good News of this weekend!
Thank you for joining with us in prayer for our Colombia ministry partners!
