Being picked for a team, hitting a grand slam, wining first place, walking away from a wreck that should have been fatal, being accepted into universities on my wish list, receiving scholarships and academic recognition, graduating (high school, undergraduate and grad school), work accolades, buying a car, buying a home, being healed from a tumor on my brain stem, being spared by God during several health scares, watching my nephew and niece come into this world, celebrating life events of family and friends, accepting Jesus as my savior, choosing Jesus and living purposefully, leading someone to the Lord, recognizing God’s calling on my life.
The list above could go on. These times may look unconnected. They may even seem quite random, but they represent just some of the good-news moments in my life that I couldn’t wait to share with friends and family. Good news is something that we always want to share and celebrate. We just can’t keep it to ourselves. It generally ignites joy, stirs up happiness in the heart and spreads infectious smiles to all who hear. Why would anyone want to keep it to themselves?
What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.
— Matthew 10:27 ESV
The best news of all is the good news of the gospel. God’s forgiveness, love, mercy and grace know no limit. He gives me hope. He never leaves. He never sleeps. He loves me and calls me his own. He allows me to be different. We have the privilege, not only to share the incredible, revolutionary, life-altering story of Jesus with our words, but also with our lives. Even more, God places our steps to give us the opportunity to share his phenomenal gift of life and love with others countless times every single day! At this second, my heart is just overwhelmed with excitement and anticipation of my next God moment, but it is also heavy, knowing that I have missed out on some amazing moments and blessings when I have failed to be obedient in sharing with others.
God didn’t set us up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our Master, Jesus Christ. He died for us, a death that triggered life. Whether we’re awake with the living or asleep with the dead, we’re alive with him! So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it.
— 1 Thessalonians 5:9–11 MSG
“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.”
— Matthew 5:13–16 MSG
It’s time to take advantage of the moments that God gives us to share love and life in him with others. You don’t have to be a Bible expert. We don’t have to know or have all of life’s answers, because God just wants our willing hearts and able selves to walk in him and share his love along the way. It could be just being sweet to the Walmart greeter who has had a bad day. It might just be smiling at someone. It could also be sharing hope through the most devastating of circumstances. Most of time, if I am just being the person God calls me to be, I am blessed, surprised and blown away by the conversations that start up with the people in my path. You would never know how shy I really am in a room of people I don’t know. I mean, seriously! But God just takes over with his plan, his way, his intention, his big picture. And I get to be blessed to share who he is and watch what he does!