Acts 14

There are many people who use the word “Gospel” regularly without really knowing its true meaning. The Greek word for gospel is evaggelion which simply means “good news” or a “good message.” The “Good News” is a message that, when heard for the first time, excites another person.

Apostle Paul described this message, – this good news – over and over in the book of Acts. For example, while he and Barnabas were in Lystra (a city in present-day Turkey), they explained the Gospel this way: “We are bringing you Good News, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the Living God.” (Acts 14:15)

The Good News that Paul had for the people was that they did not have to trust the worthless idols they had been serving. They could give their lives to a Living God – the One who was powerful enough to create the world and loving enough to care for them.

What Paul and Barnabas had to tell them was actually Good News: quit trusting these worthless things and start trusting in the Living God. Many believed this Good News and changed their way of life. (Acts 14:21-22)

I believe the world has not changed much. People still serve “worthless things” but, instead of calling them idols, we call them jobs, money, entertainment, religion, etc. People live lonely, purposeless lives. They often choose worthless things because they do not know what else will work.

While people search for some good news and a purpose for life, religious people are busy doing their own thing. It seems that believers and churches don’t really know – or have forgotten – what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is all about.

We must go back to the Bible and carefully listen to the words of Jesus Christ, whose name we bear, and then take another good, hard look at our Christianity the way it is being practiced today – before it is too late!

Am I, are you living the “Good News”? Are you really sharing the Good News with your friends to draw them to Jesus? Do you talk to others about God and what He has done in your life?

If you bring the Good News, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to those you meet daily, people will respond today as they did many years ago. Remember: God has saved you and has given meaning to your life. Now, please go and share this Good News, with others.

Pastor Joseph Hovsepian