The Good News in a Bad-News World

"Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land."
Proverbs 25:25 (NIV)

This morning, as I was preparing breakfast for my family, I heard this news from the radio that the minimum fare on a jeepney here in the Philippines is now Php8.50 from last year's Php7.50 (which is already a pain in our pockets). Previous news about high inflation rate of 11.4 percent for the past 14 years, which already resulted higher cost of living, food and basic necessities. Also, some news of earthquake felt all over the Asian Region and here in the Philippines. Not only that, countless news about government corruption and anomalies and news of some evil doings of people (like bank robberies and a fetus found inside a basket by the church altar) everywhere! I asked myself, "Where are we going to?". As I opened my daily devotional book, "Today Can Be The Best Day Of Your Life" by Harold Sala, it made clear to me that these things, good or bad, happen for a reason, and that's why the Bible is called "The Good News" for even we are bombarded by lots of "Bad News" around us we can still rely with the "The Word of God" to quench our weary souls. Now, is it just a coincidence that I have read this entry today? Well, there is no coincidence with God, it's all carefully planned out!

Here, I share what is written on my devotional book under the date July 9:

A "BAD-NEWS" WORLD

"Good news gives health to the bones," wrote a wise man long ago (Proverbs 15:30). Yet, have you noticed how little real "good news" there is anymore? First - you probably awaken to the nerve-jarring buzz of an alarm clock. Getting dressed, you turn on the radio and hear about everything bad that has happened in the night. Pick up the morning newspaper and you get the local crime report. Watch television at the end of the day and you see the most recent war zone. Is there no good news anymore? It was not without reason that the writers of Scripture began to refer to the Gospel as "The Good News!" in a bad-news world.

It is good news because it tells you that God is concerned with your life! What a contrast to the reality of life today, which leaves you with the impression that there are few who care about what happens to you.

It is also good news in a bad-news world because the Bible says there is an end to the problems confronting our world. Reading the Bible's last chapter reveals that eventually the Prince of Peace will return to rule and reign. In the meatime, the peace of God can rule in my heart, no matter how much bad news confronts me every day.

The Bible is also good news in a bad-news world because it tells you that your life can be different. That is the best news of all. With God, there is forgiveness and help. You need not be a victim of failure and sin, or live in bondage to the hostilities that imprison. You can be a new person with a hope and a future.

Finally, it is very good news because the Bible says that God is in control. It says there is alimit to how far God will allow humanity to go and will eventually step in and say, "Gentlemen, That's enough." Try the Bible. It's the best news you will ever get.


Source: Today Can Be The Best Day Of Your Life (365 Guidelines for Daily Living) by Harold Sala

Top Bible Verses (Most Popular)

John 3:16

Rank 1

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV)

John 1:1

Rank 2

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (NIV)

John 14:6

Rank 3

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (NIV)

Matthew 28:19

Rank 4

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (NIV)

Romans 3:23

Rank 5

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (NIV)

Ephesians 2:8

Rank 6

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – (NIV)

Genesis 1:1

Rank 7

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (NIV)

Acts 1:8

Rank 8

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (NIV)

2 Timothy 3:16

Rank 9

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (NIV)

Romans 10:9

Rank 10

If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (NIV)

Romans 6:23

Rank 11

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NIV)

For the wages which sin pays is death, but the [bountiful] free gift of God is eternal life through (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord. (AMP)

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (KJV)

Acts 2:38

Rank 12

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (NIV)

And Peter answered them, Repent (change your views and purpose to accept the will of God in your inner selves instead of rejecting it) and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of and release from your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (AMP)

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (KJV)

John 1:12

Rank 13

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – (NIV)

But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name--[Isa. 56:5.] (AMP)

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (KJV)

Romans 8:28

Rank 14

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (NIV)

We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. (AMP)

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (KJV)

John 1:9

Rank 15

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. (NIV)

There it was--the true Light [was then] coming into the world [the genuine, perfect, steadfast Light] that illumines every person. [Isa. 49:6.] (AMP)

That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. (KJV)

Genesis 1:26

Rank 16

Then God said, "Let us make human beings in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." (NIV)

God said, Let Us [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the [tame] beasts, and over all of the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth. [Ps. 104:30; Heb. 1:2; 11:3.] (AMP)

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (KJV)

Romans 12:1

Rank 17

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is true worship. (NIV)

I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. (AMP)

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (KJV)

Romans 5:8

Rank 18

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (NIV)

But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us. (AMP)

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (KJV)

Matthew 28:18

Rank 19

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." (NIV)

Jesus approached and, breaking the silence, said to them, All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. (AMP)

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (KJV)

John 3:3

Rank 20

Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born again." (NIV)

Source: http://topverses.com/

Matthew 6:25-27 ( Do Not Worry)

Matthew 6:25-27

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?

26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life^[a]?

Footnotes:

[a] Matthew 6:27 - Or single cubit to his height

Source: http://www.biblegateway.com

Prayer:
Lord, God Almighty, thank you for providing us everything that we really need in our life, you were never late and you are always on time, Oh Lord, we praise you! Please help us to bear in our minds not to be worried about anything, for you are the living God, Jehovahjireh, who loves us so much and you are our Great Provider. We bless you, Lord, and we lift your name on high!
In Jesus' name, Amen.

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