Our friends thoroughly enjoyed their experience at the local restaurant we visited with them recently. They will not hesitate to elaborate on their enjoyment of the meal to anyone who will listen.
In the same way a Christ follower’s appreciation of their relationship with the Lord will naturally result in a declaration of how good it is.
God’s “good news” of which Paul said, “I am not ashamed” (Romans 1:16) is that every human being has a natural inclination to live contrary to God’s word, will, and way. We prefer to choose our own path (Isaiah 53:6). Our rebellion deserves God’s wrath, but in His mercy He made a way for us to be forgiven and become His forever children (Romans 6:23).
God’s sinless Son, Jesus, died on the cross, taking upon Himself the punishment for our evil (Romans 5:8). Everyone who turns from their rebellion and believes He died for them personally receives pardon and new life in relationship with Him (John 11:25-26).
That we can go from being God’s adversary to becoming a member of His family and trading a pointless for a purposeful existence through faith in Jesus is truly good news.
Paul described those who receive the good news this way: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creature, the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) Guilt and shame is replaced by forgiveness and acceptance. Our is evil not condoned, but atoned for—God’s wrath against us satisfied by Christ’s sacrifice. His resurrection offered proof that God accepted the payment for sin.
Christ followers are not only rescued from the penalty of sin, but also from its present power to run and ruin our lives (Romans 6:3-6). God’s Spirit’s enables His children to “put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another…” (Colossians 3:12-13a).
To “feast” on God’s gracious pardon of our sin, grand purpose in living for Him, great power over sin, genuine peace within, and good promise of spending eternity with Him—that is worship that can’t help but spill over into our witness.
God’s children captivated by His grace poured out on them in undeserved pardon are more likely to report to others what great things the Lord has done for us and how He had mercy on us (Mark 5:19).
If our witness is lagging, perhaps our worship is lacking. The witness of good news stated above is an invitation for those who’ve not done so to turn from self and trust Christ as Savior (2 Corinthians 5:20).