God’s Best News – The Disciple-Making Lifestyle

Explosive joy accompanied the world’s grandest announcement – “…unto you is born this day a Savior…” (Luke 2:11) God’s chosen people had long been expecting the Messiah’s coming, then suddenly, in the fullness of time, the angels announced His arrival. No longer would the world need to curiously wonder about what its Creator looked like. Now they could actually see His face, observe His character, and hear His voice. For us, He left His kingdom and assumed the vestments of humanity, “…taking on the very nature of a servant…” (Philippians 2:7)

From the night of His birth until now, we and the many generations of believers before us have enjoyed the wonderful privilege of knowing Him. In becoming flesh, our Creator muted His awesome holy power, so we could approach Him! John explained this saying – the Lord of heaven and earth, “…made His dwelling among us, and we have seen His glory.” (John 1:14) At last we finally realized that, “… in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” (Colossians 2:9)

The Lord’s incarnation took place for the benefit of every past, present, and future sinner. Because of what He did on our behalf – heaven’s door was opened wide! Now, both Jews and Gentiles could experience the Father’s saving grace! Jehovah’s virgin-born Son willingly left His heavenly realm to make that possible. He left heaven for one compelling reason “…to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10) The Bible says, “…for God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) That was God’s best news!

Following the Lord’s sinless life, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection, on the day of Pentecost, the message of God’s universal love became announced. Through God’s prophet Joel, He promised, “…I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.” (Joel 2: 28) As a result of that outpouring, the good news of heaven’s message would ultimately be carried to the far corners of the earth. The Lord Jesus proclaimed this saying, “This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the inhabited world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14)

As part of God’s eternal plan, sincere believers were given the supreme honor of helping make heaven’s Best News known! Through faith in God’s only begotten Son, forgiveness is now fully available to the unredeemed seekers of every – tribe, tongue, and nation!

Jehovah’s amazing gift of His eternal Son was so other worldly and totally undeserved, that mankind was spiritually stunned. They were unprepared for His purity, miracles, and redeeming love. At first, many were so doubtful and entrenched in their sinful way of life that they were unwilling to receive Him (see John 1:10-12). However, over the centuries billions have received Him and their lives have been changed forever! “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) God’s redeeming grace became the world’s best news for sinners like you and me.

Each morning as you pray, let the overwhelming joy of God’s Best News saturate your thoughts. When you do this, you will experience the exhilaration of contemplating on the world’s perfect example of limitless love. Our Father sent His Son so we could individually experience abundant life! With this in mind, pause to consider what the Lord was teaching us when He said, “ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16:24) On earth, we have no higher honor than asking for the privilege of sharing the Father’s life-giving message of forgiveness with a friend or family member.

This New Year, as your gift to the Lord Jesus, you can privately kneel somewhere quietly and sincerely ask Him to use your life. Next, you can dedicate yourself and all you have been given for the noble purpose of helping others to find Him. Loving and serving Him – is the profound joy of life!