Spread the Good News

Romans 1:16 (NLT)
16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.

The apostle tells us he is not ashamed to speak out about the Good News. Earlier in Romans Paul tells us the Good News is about God’s Son, Jesus Christ. He tells us in His earthly life He was born into King David’s family line, and He was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will obey and believe, bringing glory to His name.



In a Peanuts comic strip, Linus approaches his sister and innocently asks, “Do you ever pray, Lucy?” Lucy responds, “That’s kind of a personal question isn’t it? Are you trying to start an argument?” She then begins ranting with obvious irritation, “I SUPPOSE YOU THINK YOU’RE SOMEBODY PRETTY SMART, DON’T YOU? I SUPPOSE YOU THINK…” Linus wanders away. In the last panel, he is sucking his thumb, holding his blanket as he tells Charlie Brown, “You’re right… Religion is a very touchy subject!”

Like Lucy from the comic strip Peanuts, there are some who believe questions about religion are very personal. Religion should be personal, but it should be personal in a way that you are not ashamed or fearful to speak up about it. It should be personal in the sense that you understand your relationship with God. It should be personal enough that you can acknowledge you do pray to God and you do have a relationship with His Son Jesus Christ. I admire those who are in the public eye and have no problem admitting Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior. They are putting God and Christ before their fears of what others may think. I remember Pastor Tony Evans saying he was asked to pray before a professional football game, but those asking him to pray said they didn’t want him to mention Jesus if possible. What they wanted was a generic prayer suitable for many religions. Instead the pastor boldly spoke his prayer acknowledging what Jesus had done for him. He praised Jesus and gave Jesus the glory He deserved and in closing he said, “I pray these things in the precious name of Jesus Christ, King above all Kings, my Savior and my Lord.” Are you ashamed to tell others of your love for Jesus? In Matthew 10:33 Jesus says, “But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.”