He (Jesus) went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the Good News of the Kingdom of God. ... Luke 8:1a
Years ago I was told the story of two brothers who went searching for gold in the Yukon.
After a long search they found a rich vein of gold and hurried to town to file their claim. The brothers agreed they wouldn't say a word about what they'd found lest someone find their spot and try to take it from them.
Without revealing their secret they filed their claim, bought some supplies, and headed back to their claim. After a few hundred feet the brothers turned around to see the entire town was following them. No, they hadn't said anything ... but their faces had glowed with their good fortune.
It appears two brothers, Andy and Nayel Ashkar of New York, are better than those Yukon brothers at keeping their poker faces. In 2006 they won, but didn't claim, a $5 million scratch-off lottery prize. No, these brothers kept their secret until they were sure they were properly prepared for the fame and fortune which comes from $5 million.
I don't know how they managed to hide their good fortune, but they did ... even from, maybe that ought to read, especially from many of those who were closest to them.
This got me to wondering, how do we handle our good news?
No, I'm not talking about finding gold or winning the lottery. I'm speaking about the Good News, which comes to us in Jesus. How do we handle that Good News?
Do our faces radiate with the joy which comes from sins forgiven and the knowledge that heaven and not hell awaits us when we die? Do we find it impossible to contain the hope that is ours with faith in Jesus, or do we do all we can to make sure nobody knows our lives have been transformed by God's Son, who sacrificed Himself , so we might be freed from sin, the devil and death?
How do we handle it? I don't have an answer to that, but I do know what the Lord wants us to do: He wants us to share the Savior's story of salvation wherever and with whomever we can.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, the Good News of salvation is to be shared, not kept a secret. Let us proudly proclaim the crucified and risen Savior, who has called us out of darkness into the wonderful light of His blood-bought salvation. In Jesus' Name, we ask it. Amen.
In Christ I remain His servant and yours,
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Today's Bible Readings: Lamentations 1-2 Hebrews 12
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