Psalm 112:6-7 - For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
There is more than enough bad news to go around. We do not like it, but we hear it every day. Bad news may have national or worldwide implications—war, pandemics, natural disasters, or economic collapse. Some news strikes closer to home, through illness, job loss, financial woes, troubled relationships, and grief.
It is very easy to be afraid of news like that, yet the righteous, those who belong to the Lord, do not have to be afraid even when faced with bad news. We trust in the Lord who knows every bit of news before it happens. He makes news. God "makes nations great, and He destroys them; He enlarges nations, and leads them away" (Job 12:23). He says, "I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the LORD, who does all these things" (Isaiah 45:7).
We are not afraid of bad news because our God is the God of good news. According to His gracious promises, He brought to the world the best news ever heard. An angel told shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem: "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10-11). More than thirty years later, Christ the Lord suffered and died on the cross to atone for the sins of the world. Then, on the first Easter morning, an angel announced the astonishing news to the women who came to Jesus' tomb: "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, as He said. Come, see the place where He lay" (Matthew 28:5-6). (Sometimes even good news—and the angels who bring it—can be frightening, so the heavenly messengers remind us, "Fear not" or "Do not be afraid.")
As long as this fallen world endures, we will hear bad news. In fact, as Scripture warns, the bad news will become increasingly worse as the Last Day draws near: "There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world" (Luke 21:25-26a). Surrounded by bad news, even frightening news, we will not be afraid. We know the good news—and the news gets better: Jesus is coming back! Our Lord tells us what to do when we hear bad news: "Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near" (Luke 21:28).
WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, lead me to opportunities to share the Good News. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.
Reflection Questions:
1. Much in the news is truly awful. Do you do anything in your life to intentionally counter all that negativity?
2. Why is it Christians can stand firm in the face of bad news?
3. What is the best news you've recently shared with someone?
Today's Bible Readings: Genesis 31-32 Matthew 20:1-16
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