So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. (Romans 1:15, ESV)
Back in the old days, before most of the world had heard of coronavirus, I had a golf lesson with Kay Cornelius at my club. Based on pedigree and personality, I had recommended her to one of our Links Players, and he liked her a lot. When it was time for me to get a professional assessment of my own swing, I signed up.
Actually my wife bought me a lesson as a gift, which was terrific, but it turned out to be as much of a gift for Kay as for me. It’s been eight months since I took that one lesson, but she’s given quite a few lessons to others because I’ve sung her praises so often. I’m a fan, and I’m happy to tell everyone that she can help them.
And that, my friends, is how simple it is to share good news. Unless someone asks, I don’t give any details about that lesson. I’m happy to, but I know my issues are not the same ones those other golfers have. So I don’t give my “golf testimony” and tell how badly I was lost, I just say I was struggling a little and now I’m not.
Bad news is shared too often, and good news not often enough.The same is true when I share the gospel of Christ. I’m eager to do that because even as a child I was struggling before I knew Jesus, and he had the answer. In fact he was the answer. Why wouldn’t I want to tell people that good news?
Paul wrote his letter to Rome before he had been there, as we see from Romans 1:11, 13, and 15 (today’s verse). He knew some in the church (chapter 16), but he was “eager to preach the gospel” there. Did they need to hear it? Weren’t they already followers of Jesus? Weren’t they a church? Yes, to all of those questions.
We may stumble a bit over the phrase “preach the gospel to you.” The word preach is not in the original Greek but is implied by the definition of gospel, which is “to announce good news.” Share good news? Even I can do that. So can you.
Paul goes on to say (Romans 1:16 and following) that he is not ashamed of the good news because it has power to deliver us. That includes deliverance from the eternal consequences of sin, but also the “here and now” consequences. Good news!
Share the gospel and its saving (delivering) power every chance you get. Bad news is shared too often, and good news not often enough. Be like Paul and always be eager to share the best good news ever, everywhere, with everyone.
—
Lewis Greer
September 11, 2020
Copyright 2020 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
OTHER DEVOTIONS IN THIS SERIES
Why Am I Here? 1: Bearing God’s Image
Why Am I Here? 2: Seeking God
Why Am I Here? 3: Pleasing God
Why Am I Here? 5: Living Sacrificially
Why Am I Here? 6: Being Transformed
Why Am I Here? 7: Using Our Gifts
Why Am I Here? 8: Living in Community
Why Am I Here? 9: Confronting Falsehoods
Why Am I Here? 10: Mirroring Christ’s Love