Day 44: Wrestling with Good News

Ezekiel 3:16-6:14

Hebrews 4:1-16

Psalm 104:24-35

Proverbs 26:27

Here I am. Settled in, with an adorable puppy to my left. With my feet on the couch and my mom didn't say anything even though she took the picture. Here I am. Ready and excited to read about Zeke.

"Wait. What the heck. Geez!"

My poor friend Zeke!

Ezekiel 3:18-19 and 20-21

"When I say to a wicked person, 'You will surely die,' And you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself [and the same for the righteous person who turns from their righteousness]."

It ain't easy being a prophet.

But really, are we as Christians today in a different position? Not really. I mean, we know about Jesus and we know the consequences of not following Jesus. We should be motivated to tell people about Jesus. This should be our burden.

We aren't held accountable for the blood of the nonbelievers we don't share the gospel with. But we are held accountable for our obedience to Christ and He tells us to make disciples and teach the Word of God.

This is a hard topic for me to wrestle through because I'm very wary of sounding legalistic. I'm wrestling with how harsh this sounds but how good and real it is too.

Hebrews 4:12-13 & 15-16

"For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account...For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet He did not sin. Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

The message we preach is about a big, holy, uncompromising God but it's about a gracious, loving, and faithful God. We proclaim peace. True peace. Not "peace, don't worry, do what you want." But "peace, don't worry, God has done and will do what He wants." The God who knows better.

We preach good news.

Our good news does entail sacrifice, surrendering of ourselves and everything we once believed. But it is such good news.

It is a very good thing to be the bearer of good news.