Daily Devotionals
Wednesday, April 10, 2024 (Paula)
Headlines. We see them everywhere! 
Headlines are important. The GOSPEL is the bible’s attention getting headliner. It means “Good News.“
But as we know from headline news, context is everything! If we ignore the context and the backstory, we will certainly not be riveted by the headline!
What makes the gospel the “Good News” is actually knowing the bad news. All of us- every single one- have sinned and fallen short! We don’t deserve (or earn our way to) heaven. WE are the bad girls…
Wait.
I’m not going to hide behind the first person plural. I am the bad girl. ME!
The bad news I must acknowledge about myself will make the good news of the gospel all the sweeter.
You may not find the good news very compelling if you don’t believe the bad.
I find this quote from Tim Keller to be powerfully revealing truth;
“It is common to view sin as breaking a set of rules. Jesus, though, shows us that a person who has violated virtually nothing on the list of moral misbehaviors (the Pharisees) can be every bit as spiritually lost as the most immoral person. Why? Because sin isn’t just breaking the rules- it’s putting yourself in the place of God as Savior, Lord, and Judge.”
I am not any of those things (Savior, Lord, Judge) And you aren’t either.
The Lord has never commanded us to work to save ourselves (Savior) or live 100% self-willed (Lord), nor has He asked us to judge others (Judge).
Humans are willfully ignorant, passionately rebellious, and condemned to death. That’s the bad news. Ugh.
GK Chesterton, (famed Christian philosopher and author) famously answered a newspaper’s open question:
“What’s Wrong With the World Today?“
He had a very short letter answer to the editor.
Dear sir,
I am.
Yours,
GK Chesterton
It is placing our prideful self reliance, independence, and own will above God that is the heart of sin and the center of all the bad news!
God is our loving creator. He is our supreme authority. He is the final judge. He made a way for us, where there was no way!
If we are to stand firm on the day when God‘s righteous judgment is revealed, (Romans 2:5) it will only be through repentance and belief in a righteousness that is not our own! A righteousness only from Jesus.
That is the good news.
That’s the headliner banner you can stand under today, friends!
“His banner over me is love” Song of Solomon 2:4b
Have a great Wednesday!
Better Together,
Paula
Headlines are important. The GOSPEL is the bible’s attention getting headliner. It means “Good News.“
But as we know from headline news, context is everything! If we ignore the context and the backstory, we will certainly not be riveted by the headline!
What makes the gospel the “Good News” is actually knowing the bad news. All of us- every single one- have sinned and fallen short! We don’t deserve (or earn our way to) heaven. WE are the bad girls…
Wait.
I’m not going to hide behind the first person plural. I am the bad girl. ME!
The bad news I must acknowledge about myself will make the good news of the gospel all the sweeter.
You may not find the good news very compelling if you don’t believe the bad.
I find this quote from Tim Keller to be powerfully revealing truth;
“It is common to view sin as breaking a set of rules. Jesus, though, shows us that a person who has violated virtually nothing on the list of moral misbehaviors (the Pharisees) can be every bit as spiritually lost as the most immoral person. Why? Because sin isn’t just breaking the rules- it’s putting yourself in the place of God as Savior, Lord, and Judge.”
I am not any of those things (Savior, Lord, Judge) And you aren’t either.
The Lord has never commanded us to work to save ourselves (Savior) or live 100% self-willed (Lord), nor has He asked us to judge others (Judge).
Humans are willfully ignorant, passionately rebellious, and condemned to death. That’s the bad news. Ugh.
GK Chesterton, (famed Christian philosopher and author) famously answered a newspaper’s open question:
“What’s Wrong With the World Today?“
He had a very short letter answer to the editor.
Dear sir,
I am.
Yours,
GK Chesterton
It is placing our prideful self reliance, independence, and own will above God that is the heart of sin and the center of all the bad news!
God is our loving creator. He is our supreme authority. He is the final judge. He made a way for us, where there was no way!
If we are to stand firm on the day when God‘s righteous judgment is revealed, (Romans 2:5) it will only be through repentance and belief in a righteousness that is not our own! A righteousness only from Jesus.
That is the good news.
That’s the headliner banner you can stand under today, friends!
“His banner over me is love”
Song of Solomon 2:4bHave a great Wednesday!
Better Together,
Paula
