Good News for “comfortable” people
The area in which we live is like most of middle-class Australia – most people have the appearance of being relatively comfortable and happy, at least on the surface.
Perhaps our “Good News” needs an upgrade? If I focus on this surface appearance of things it seriously dulls my sense of urgency about how much people need to hear God really loves them. It’s so easy to forget most people don’t know Jesus – they haven’t heard the Best News they could ever hear! This prevalent surface comfort often hides the fears, hurts, struggles, disappointments and doubts that pretty much everyone goes through. It’s like paracetamol that dulls a headache but doesn’t treat the source of the pain. We all know that “creature comforts” can’t fix those deeper issues, but somehow it’s oh-so-easy to forget and carry on as if everything is alright. Even when things might be “good” there are many who are missing out on what’s BEST.
Recently, as I was reading Colossians I was reminded and encouraged that the Good News is still spreading around the world and is still having a mighty impact wherever it is spoken. In the middle of this “comfort zone” I needed to be reminded that people here need Jesus; that God is not only interested in the lost people in Africa, Asia or South America, but He longs to be reconciled with the lost souls of Port Macquarie too.
Colossians 1:6,9-10 (NLT)
6 This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace…
9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
Imagine what this letter might have meant to the early church in Colossae. They had no radio, TV, email or Internet to know what was going on in other places. News travelled slowly and society was generally not very friendly towards Christian converts. How encouraging it would have been to hear that the Message of Jesus they had received and experienced was bringing blessing into people’s lives throughout the Roman world and beyond! It’s the same today when we hear the stories of the miracles and salvations God is bringing to people in other parts of our world.
The key to a life that honours God…
Did you notice what Paul was praying for this church? He was asking God to give them a “complete knowledge of His will” and for “spiritual wisdom and understanding” that comes from such an intimacy with God. What a confidence booster it would have been to know that Paul was continually praying for them and believing for them to develop such a close relationship with God. We should be greatly encouraged to know that Jesus himself continually intercedes to God the Father on our behalf (Romans 8:34).
Have you ever thought that it is possible for you to have that kind of in-depth sharing of God’s heart and mind? A complete knowledge! Paul obviously believed it was possible, enough that he had the confidence to ask it for them. Wow! And Jesus is now opening the way for us to have exactly that, through the Holy Spirit living inside everyone who trusts in Jesus.
What’s more, this passage tells us this is the key to living in a way that honours God and is fruitful in every way! Do you want your life to be like that – filled with blessing and channelling God’s love? As you get to know God, you can live according to His will and the product of that intimacy will make your life fruitful in everything you do!
Did you know that God has things already prepared for you to do, and because He has designed these things just for you, it will be the BEST life you can ever have! As you get to know Him more and more you will see the unfolding of His plan for you.
Paul writes, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT)
You are a masterpiece of God’s creativity, uniquely designed for unique good things!
What about you?
Are you muddling along with a “good” life but actually missing out on what is best? What are you waiting for? Your best life will only be discovered as you begin to know God’s love through Jesus.
Why not ask Him today to begin that journey of getting to know Him more and more? A simple prayer in your own words is all it takes to begin. He is close and he is listening.